Drama this is going to hurt

[Thomasina79]

I found the book brilliantly funny. I have worked in admin hospitals and primary care, so can relate re cut backs etc.

Anyone else enjoying this drama, if that’s the right word! True to life. Any doctors, nurses etc anyone?

I haven’t seen the TV show but I did read the book and didn’t warm to him at all - I thought there were undercurrents of misogyny.

I did notice today that our local maternity unit had posted a warning on their Facebook and Instagram pages about some dangerous inaccuracy in the drama.

@MatildaTheCat

I worked in nhs midwifery for 25 years and was really uncomfortable with the lack of respect for the women and the undercurrents of nastiness. Some of the situations were utterly ludicrous. Yes, it has a kind of appeal and of course it highlights how doctors used to work insane hours but no, it wasn’t a workplace I recognised.

So glad someone else said this. I read the book and found it so disrespectful towards the women he was meant to care for, like the jokes were at their expense.

It's set in 06 , i'd had my children by then so I've no idea what it was like then having a baby. but I've had dealings with them due to having elderly parents and it was mostly very hit and miss and some people were great and others not so much. The NHS isn't perfect , but think most people understand this , sadly :(
I'm dreading getting older as it will probably be non existent by the time I might need it my dotage. I just hope I can avoid having to go near to any hospital at all , but it's unlikely I guess

I'm a nurse, I thought it was awful.

It was billed as a comedy/drama. What comedy?

@Boood

Do doctors really speak to each other like that? I’ve known one person in my 25 year working life who made a habit of being that sarcastic and aggressive and he was constantly dodging warnings. It’s so far outside the norm in private companies it’s bizarre to watch.

My daughter in law works in an admin type role in a large hospital. The way consultants behave and speak to other 'lower' members of staff is entirely appalling. She was in tears at least once a day for the first few weeks of training g. Absolute arseholes.

The way some Doctors speak to their patients is bad enough, I can imagine they treat their own staff a lot worse in lots of cases too.

I was working in a hospital in 2006. Some consultants were absolutely knobs.

I read the book but found it very misogynistic. He's a knob as well.

He days the character as flawed and imperfect but I think he comes across appallingly on the show. I don’t recall thinking that way about the book but it’s been a while since I read it.

I worked in nhs midwifery for 25 years and was really uncomfortable with the lack of respect for the women and the undercurrents of nastiness.

Agree. It’s a deeply misogynistic programme where Women are there to be laughed at when they’re at their most venerable.

@LizzieSiddal

I worked in nhs midwifery for 25 years and was really uncomfortable with the lack of respect for the women and the undercurrents of nastiness.

Agree. It’s a deeply misogynistic programme where Women are there to be laughed at when they’re at their most venerable.

Agreed. I’m no prude and definitely have a dark sense of humour, but hated the book. He came across as misogynistic and totally lacked respect for both the women in his care and the midwifery and nursing staff. Tried to paint himself as some kind of superhero, running from room to room saving lives. Reinforced negative stereotypes of labour and birth. Hated it and strongly dislike him. I won’t be watching.

There's already a long thread about this in telly addicts.

It’s so real many of us who have been there are struggling to watch. It a brilliant done

As a woman who had her first baby in 2013 I found parts relatable.

There was a complete lack of consistency across staff, I was not treated well by the doctors until it got serious (I was one of the ‘GET THE CONSULTANT’ cases) and there was a dismissive air generally of us - as if we were there to facilitate their development and egos.

The midwives were generally nicer but still lacked a lot of empathy and I was generally treated like an idiot.

Adam Kay says his book is a confidence trick and he’s right - it appears to be a comedy but it’s not and this ‘trick’ isn’t really possible in the TV adaptation as you need a narrative.

He says very clearly he wasn’t a great doctor and that he was worked into the ground. The TV show portrays that very clearly I think.

I had pre-eclampsia. Serious. Although weirdly it didn't feel like that at the time. Treated as an emergency with lots of people rushing in at one point.
I don't think any male doctor had a lack of respect to me and was ok with my treatment from them.
My treatment was overall good but if I had to pick any unsatisfactory elements it would be a couple of female midwives.

As usual, the book is much more nuanced than the TV series.

Also, regarding ‘negative stereotypes of birth’ I know hardly anyone who had a nice ‘normal’ complication free birth.

Yes, most didn’t have instrumental births or terrible complications but loads required stitches, had infections, haemorrhages, incontinence, etc.

I’m sick of the ‘we’ve been doing it for years’ narrative like it’s no big deal. Women routinely died in childbirth even in the last 100 years. It’s not a mere trifle that a bunch of twats would have you believe. Without serious medical intervention I wouldn’t be here and neither would either of my children.

I had to turn it off as it actually upset me. And I am not normally a special snowflake.

I found him completely unlikable and a nasty wanker.

Yep. He came across this way in the book so I won't be bothering with the programme.

Waaaaay too many doctors want to be media stars these days.

A bit less Twitter, a bit more humility would be nice.

@Merryoldgoat

Also, regarding ‘negative stereotypes of birth’ I know hardly anyone who had a nice ‘normal’ complication free birth.

Yes, most didn’t have instrumental births or terrible complications but loads required stitches, had infections, haemorrhages, incontinence, etc.

I’m sick of the ‘we’ve been doing it for years’ narrative like it’s no big deal. Women routinely died in childbirth even in the last 100 years. It’s not a mere trifle that a bunch of twats would have you believe. Without serious medical intervention I wouldn’t be here and neither would either of my children.

Yes in my NCT group of 9 I think only 1 had an intervention free birth. 6 or 7 of us had foreceps/Ventouse and one Caesarian. I know that 2 of them women had to be seen by consultants month afterwards for complications (tearing etc I think though I don’t know the details). cThankfully everyone survived, that probably wouldn’t have been the case a hundred years ago.

@modgepodge

Yup. 6 of us. 2 intervention free but one of those had issues straight afterwards.

Two inductions (resulting in one ventouse and one EMCS), one ROM and no progression requiring augmentation and stitches and 1 breech requiring an ELCS.

And the inductions were for maternal health issues so without them there’d be no mother or baby most likely.

@Merryoldgoat if that was directed at me I really think you’ve got the wrong end of the stick.
Agreed 100%, medical advances in obstetrics are fantastic and often lifesaving. Im absolutely not arguing with that. But there’s a big issue with coercion, cherry picking evidence to support unnecessary medicalisation of labour and birth, and with women being dehumanised and not treated with dignity and respect. I saw a lot of this in Kay’s book.

@purpleme12 I agree with you that there are lots of male obstetricians who are respectful, caring and fantastic at their jobs. I don’t think Kay came across that was at all, unfortunately. I’m sorry that you felt some of the midwives didn’t treat you this way in labour.

Thanks, interesting opinions. Not heard of the telly addicts thread as don’t watch much tv, but v interested in NHS. I would recommend the book. Having watched all of the series now I don’t think it is too much like the book. The bit about Shruti made me cry though.

What I hope people watching take away is how awful the working conditions for junior doctors are. I think it’s been the only program that has represented how I felt when training, the sheer workload, bullying, being talked to like shit, stuck making shit referrals for bosses and getting shouted at, not getting any time for lunch or going for a wee, and the crushing responsibility being on your shoulders. Being in a room and realising your the most senior one there and you have no idea what to do. Being terrified to phone your consultant for help.

Most other medical dramas focus on dramatic injuries or whatever but this is really about the staff, and the daily trauma they go through.

I did tear during childbirth but it was dealt with and am fine. I also had a sterilization op and that was fine too
I think I was lucky really to have such straight forwards experiences.
Most of my friends also had positive experiences as well. I feel so lucky especially after watching seven episodes of this ( and reading the books too!)

I’m a nurse but mental health. Thought it was a bit shit really and not at all representative of the professionalism and skill most NHS staff provide! Did watch it all but I’ll watch anything🤷‍♀️

Don’t recognize the way they spoke to each other as realistic at all and just thought it was a bit daft.

The whole thing about the complaint and the dismissive nature of the falsifying notes did not ring true with me either. We take any incident really seriously!