Not in the Best of Health: The forthright and entertaining memoirs of an NHS paediatrician

Price: £4.99
(as of Aug 05,2023 10:52:59 UTC – Details)

The NHS is facing the greatest crisis since its inception in 1948. One of the UK’s most beloved institutions has been brought to its knees through underfunding, bad management and political meddling. Morale has slumped so low in 2022 that more than half of advertised consultant physician posts in England and Wales are unfilled. Nurses are leaving the profession in droves, and those who remain have voted for a nationwide strike. Piling on the misery, reports by Donna Ockenden and General Sir Gordon Messenger expose alarming flaws in healthcare.

How did it come to this? Not in the Best of Health describes a medical career stretching from that of a fledgling student, to that of a worn out and disillusioned senior consultant paediatrician. In Charles Godden’s sharply observed memoir, stories of sick children and those who treated them are described with candour, humour and insight gained over three decades working in hospitals stretching from Papua New Guinea to the UK.

If you want to know why the NHS is failing, and what might be done to save this most treasured institution, read this book.

EARLY REVIEWS

‘Not in the Best of Health will entertain and shock. This is an outstanding medical narrative from Godden who records a life in paediatrics and pulls no punches documenting his experiences of clinical medicine and the frustrations of NHS administration. His integrity and experience shine throughout with equal amounts of humour and poignancy.
His clinical scenarios are elegantly described such that lay readers will completely understand. This book should be read by anyone with even a passing interest in medical literature or with aspirations to work with children in the medical sphere.’ – Professor Neil Wilson MB BS DCH FRCPCH FSCAI

‘Spanning three decades of reorganisation, over-management, declining consultant autonomy and sleepless nights this inimitable memoir shines a sharp light on our parlous NHS. Patient focussed and moving, funny but serious,
it is a must read.’ – Professor of primary care (general practice) Anthony Harnden

‘WARNING! This is an honest reflection written with great humour and enviable humility of a career in medicine. Toe curling in places, totally relatable, and an essential read for those in, around, or interested in healthcare.’ – Dr Craig Marshall, Intensive Care Medicine Registrar

‘Whilst maintaining his effortless wit, Charles presents an honest account into the occasional highs and tragic lows of an NHS paediatrician. I really enjoyed the read and it certainly highlights the struggles I have ahead of me!’ – Robbie Hill, a first year medical student

‘I rarely read medical books for recreation – too much of a busman’s holiday. However, perhaps because we both qualified in 1983 and are both paediatricians, I found many of Charles Godden’s recollections from the front line resonated with me. His views are sometimes provocative and some readers may differ with his forthright opinions but many of the personal tragedies and uplifting successes ring very true.’ – Professor Sir Terence Stephenson, DM, FRCPCH, FRCP, Past chair of GMC and past president Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BMWP728W
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Goldcrest Books International Ltd (17 Nov. 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 4598 KB
Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 512 pages