Catch Your Breath: The Secret Life of a Sleepless Anaesthetist

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A gut punch of a memoir by a doctor - and comedian - whose job is to keep people alive by putting them to sleep. It definitely made me appreciate the NHS and everyone in the health and care professions so much more and opened my eyes toward the struggles and hardships that the NHS really went through. Patrick are crucial in providing intravenous access, making them the go-to person during challenging moments when doctors and nurses struggle to get cannula into patients with difficult veins in the ward. Of course, this book isn’t solely based around the pandemic, though the chapters that are show us the harsh realities of life on the frontline. The main difference between this book and any of Adam Kay's is that the end of this one was set during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Patrick´s is hilarious, the British kind of hilarious, but nevertheless serious enough to introduce you to the big picture of what does it mean to practice this job, including the professional path leading to it. I found Ed's early days as a newly qualified Dr fascinating and it was lovely to see how his confidence grew ( as well as those around him did ! Reading this completely humanises medical professionals and has helped me to feel reassured that I would be safe in the hands of Ed or any of his colleagues.A great insight to the workings within a hospital and despite some of the bad days, it reminds me that we still need to keep ourselves going with a bit of humour. Nevertheless, I have deep, deep appreciation for all health care workers during the pandemic; he does give some sense of how frustrating it has been, but if you know or follow any hcws, this won't be new to you, though. I cannot recommend this book enough, we have all seen the strains of the pandemic on the news so it makes for really interesting insight hearing about it from someone within the NHS. The author clearly enjoys the often comedic value of his work - I know from personal experience you cannot survive the NHS ward life without a dark sense of humour. The stories ring true throughout and offer a real feeling of the reality of work on the frontline of national healthcare.

Throughout the book, as I have seen in many others, are scattered complaints about how underfunded and unmodernized the NHS is, along with compliments for it, of course, as it seems the author still has a job he would like to keep. I found this book to be a very helpful insight to read for my university application to study medicine. That he is a comedian as well as an Anaesthetist shines through in his writing, he brings a lightness of touch to his narrative and as a result Catch Your Breath feels like a perversely gentle read despite some of the subject matter!This really was a single session book, and one that left me sat thinking about it for several minutes after finishing. Ed is unapologetic in his unrestrained views of the NHS, and his stark honesty during the COVID-19 pandemic was both refreshing and desperately sad. Would it be boring, too technical, dark and creepy (some people may not even wake up from the deep sleep).

The story takes us through Ed's training which had some side splittingly funny anecdotes, his rotations as a junior doctor though to Covid hitting. In any case, if you are considering a medical career and dream about a smooth balance between work and personal life, you rather apply for a position in the medical services by the city hall. Ed weaves his humanity through this, with frequent and tender references to his family, in particular his parents which leaves you in no doubt as to the man he is. Declaration of Interest* - I know the author personally, however if you also know him you'll understand why this only makes a positive review even more valid. A gut punch of a memoir by a doctor – and comedian – whose job is to keep people alive by putting them to sleep.Nothing in their training could prepare them for the onslaught of the loss of life, the relentless waves of admissions, lack of governmental support and the terrible knowledge that there was little they could do!