2017; Picador

price £8.99 pp. 256

ISBN: 9781509858637

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'Everyone working in healthcare should read this book,' said a physiotherapist to me recently, and the audience at Adam Kay's sell-out show at the Edinburgh festival seemed to agree, giving the author a standing ovation. Kay, a former trainee in obstetrics and gynaecology, has published a book giving a raw account of his time on the front line of NHS hospitals in London. The author, who has now turned to comedy, left the medical profession aged 30 after a tragic clinical situation in which he was left devastated, unsupported and demoralised.

With Kay's clear aptitude for comedy, the diary entries provide an amusing account of the patients, staff and situations which he encountered during his training. However, there is a clear undertone of the pressures and stress experienced by junior staff and the resultant effect on Kay's relationships, social life and housing situation.

Of most relevance to dentistry is the obvious comparison to colleagues in maxillofacial departments, but any clinical staff will be able to relate to the feelings expressed in the book. It gives a stark reminder of the need to support junior staff and undergraduates in their development and to prevent the early loss of great potential from the profession.

Kay is using the success of his book to raise awareness around the experiences of frontline healthcare staff, speaking widely in the media and at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists conference. With high burnout and suicide rates among dental and medical professionals, it is integral that clinicians are supported, resilience is built and opportunities to debrief are prioritised. Painfully funny, heart-breaking and humbling, Kay's book is one of the most impactful and honest books on healthcare I've read in a long time.