This is going to hurt

Didn't it change with the introduction of the EWTD AKA the WTR (Working Time Regulations) in the UK?

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Yes, Callistemon, that was a help. The only problem was that although everyone knew it was coming and that it would mean that nobody would have to work these silly hours, the powers-that-were didn't think through the implications for numbers of doctors needed - obviously more to cover the hours. There was no substantial increase in medical school places, so there was a shortage of doctors.

Add in the fact that medical schools started admitting students on academic results without the old proportions of male to female, and there was no increase in places then either. By the rules of human biology, many of the more than half of newly-qualified doctors who were female were going to want time off to have babies, and then, in a lot of cases, want to work part-time. Of course, when the women wanted to work part-time, a lot of the men thought that it would be a good idea for them too. Now we have a severe shortage of doctors, not helped by Brexit, and it will take years to get the numbers back up, even if they started today to increase medical school places.

You couldn't make it up, as they say!

Yes, I remember that, Wheniwasyourage

I think all the GPs in our practice are part-time, male and female. It works well with childcare, I think!

I found this book funny too, that is no surprise when you find that the author Adam Kay is now ....a comedian and comedy writer. google him. he wrote the book with humour in mind!

...Adam Richard Kay (born 12 June 1980) is a British comedy writer, author, comedian and former doctor. His television writing credits include Crims, Mrs. Brown's Boys and Mitchell and Webb. He is best known as author of the number-one bestselling book 'This Is Going to Hurt.'

I have also read the book and looking forward to the t.v. Adaptation..

Is it any wonder some of our hospitals are prone to miss diagnosis.

The book is comedic but also a rare insight into the awful reality of hospital life and death. I hope the TV series will reflect that.

which channel is this on please?

'Breaking and Mending' by Joanna Cannon is well worth a read. She's a doctor too but no longer practises for reasons that become obvious on reading her book. She's written several others too but that one is her personal experience.

I absolutely LOVED every single one of his books. I hope the television programme does those books justice

I read the book, not sure to laugh or weep, especially laugh at some peoples dilemmas that they get themselves into. I can imagine that humour is the one channel of release for the stress that goes on in these careers. I don’t wish this on anyone. The NHS is just not valued enough, and the way that it is going, privatisation, is on the increase. Let’s hope that we don’t end up like USA.

Loved the books, and we went to see him too. Looking forward to this, and hoping the transfer to the screen will be successful - sometimes it isn't.

I think you have to be really tough to be a doctor- my son who is now a senior consultant surgeon, loved his time as a junior doctor - just as described by Kali - particularly in A&E - it gave him an adrenalin rush I think- yes, he got exhausted - But ended up winning prizes and a first class degree- he is dedicated, clever, tough and loves his job - hospital politics aside - of course- like the politics in any place of work. ??

janeainsworth

And perhaps earlier generations of doctors should have called out the tyranny of the system so that so many doctors wouldn’t suffer burn out.
‘Well that’s what our generation put up with and now we’re laughing because young people are suffering in the same way we did’ - is that what you’re saying Kali2?

As daughter of matron ,seniors took great delight in bragging how many hours they did and how many near misses they had too!! And lambasted juniors saying "we did it why shouldn't they?" Stupid attitude and extremely perilous for poor patients who got the doc on his or her last knockings! Ridiculous ethos all about one upmanship and zeros out The actual patients!

travelsafar BBC1 starts Tuesday 8th February at 9pm.

Both my sons trained as Doctors. The youngest knew Adam when he was at Kings. It was absolutely gruelling. Junior Doctors worked until they could no longer think straight. I thought the book was hysterical. He obviously had a real talent for writing and it’s great that his work will be a tv series. Will certainly be watching

I re-broke my arm about 19 yrs ago, and young junior doc in A&E said he thought it was a break(2nd time, same place) old doc, orthopaedic consultant, said " what would he know,? He's only a junior dr? I was too stunned (& in agony) to reply! I was gobsmacked he had said it about 'one of his own' though.It turns out junior doc was right, and i spent weeks in agony with just a crepe bandage on it till i fainted with pain- then i switched consultants.I'm still shocked he would speak that way though, about a colleague, and especially to a patient.?

I loved the books (was a xmas one too) and yes i will be watching tv show.

I found the book, both moving and absolutely laugh out loud hilarious.

Is the series called "Its going to hurt" - as nowhere does it say!! Also, what channel is it on?

This is Going to Hurt. Tuesday BBC1 at 9pm.

This is Going to Hurt 9pm BBC1 on 8.2.22

X posts Mamie

I heard Adam Kay speak when he was on a book promotion tour and much of what he said was so honest and resonated with me. Black humour and peer support is the only way to get through such a physically and emotionally exhausting job.