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This is Going to Hurt - starts 8th Feb

666 replies

ouch321 · 30/01/2022 17:37

I loved the book of this by Adam Kay. I know others weren't so keen.
BBC has dramatised this and starts in early Feb. Just a heads up for others who liked the book.

OP posts:
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6
Seemslikeagoodidea · 08/02/2022 22:09

I had not heard of the book or Adam Kay before, so came upon this series with no preconceptions. I found it gripping, fast paced and shocking in places. I didn't mind the gallows humour, because I think that's how medics cope with the pressure.

The leading actor was excellent and although Adam seemed to lack empathy he was extremely sleep deprived and clearly working far too many hours for anyone to cope with, so I'm not surprised his bedside manner was lacking at times. The programme left me feeling concerned that maybe this sort of scenario is all too common in the NHS - frightening for patients and staff.

DahliaMacNamara · 08/02/2022 22:12

It struck me as an authentic workplace. Overworked people being wankers to one another, making mistakes, the impact on personal relationships. Hands up anyone who doesn't think misogyny is real.

If you're expecting heartwarming or uplifting, don't watch.

mum2jakie · 08/02/2022 22:12

I enjoyed it. Found it funny, sad, stressful but certainly entertaining. I expect it is a pretty accurate representation given how overstretched the NHS and particularly maternity departments are.

KohlaParasaurus · 08/02/2022 22:13

@springydaff

What happened with the prem baby delivery? I missed that bit. Why was he apologising to the baby saying he was tired (and wanted to go home) etc?
The baby made it to the neonatal unit alive (I was convinced at the time that it was stillborn), but at 25 weeks many problems can still occur. I think he's apologising because the mum was always accosting him with trivial symptoms and he'd dismissed her as a time waster without doing the tests that would have picked up her very high blood pressure sooner and maybe have prevented the placental abruption that meant she needed the emergency caesarean section.

I want to know whether the consultant performed a hysterectomy to stop the woman from bleeding to death, even though it doesn't matter to the narrative.

Thymeout · 08/02/2022 22:13

Wow! I was afraid they would turn it into a sort of 'Doctor in the House' (with heartthrob Dirk Bogarde and James Robertson Justice for those of you too young to have seen it.)
But it certainly pulled no punches. A long way from 'One Born Every Minute'.
I'd say he came across as more of a misanthrope than a misogynist. Not surprising, in the circs.

USaYwHatNow · 08/02/2022 22:13

As a midwife I thought it was pretty good. I've read the books and seen him live.

Blondeshavemorefun · 08/02/2022 22:16

I thought was brilliant

Def reminded me of bodies

He’s tired overworked

Glad they well lockheart saved prem and mum

Featuredcreature · 08/02/2022 22:19

@BadHairDayExpert

What happened with the prem baby delivery? I missed that bit. Why was he apologising to the baby saying he was tired (and wanted to go home)

He thought the Mum was a time-waster/crying wolf, as she had pretended to faint earlier and was worried about spots on her tongue. (taste buds). The newbie was initially told to do blood tests but he then said to send her home instead...so it was his fault the pre-eclampsia was not picked up earlier and that the baby was a premmie. The older doctor saved both and then told him to change the notes i.e. cover-up/close ranks (which I suspect happens in all branches of medicine all the time).

The closing of ranks, and rewriting of history happens BTW in all of the specialities. Pretty fucking eye opening.

I discharged myself from the very ward I had worked on, had had about enough tbh. The visiting midwife seemed very surprised in the home visits Hmm. No wonder, the lack of empathy of the staff was a theme.

I did read read the book, tbh the misogyny seemed par for the course having worked in that sector, albeit in a lowly care worker role.

PugInTheHouse · 08/02/2022 22:20

I really liked it, would be nice if the discussion of the book had been on a separate thread (not in telly addicts) as I don't think that people who enjoy the series will really be able to discuss it here. I also enjoyed the book. I didn't take it too seriously really. I think there are elements of truth there regarding how hard Junior doctors are expected to work and the crazy hours. I have heard some horrendous stories from friends in RL.

LuckySantangelo35 · 08/02/2022 22:23

@pollygartertidywife
I sound like a “member of the professionally offended”. Well, if you don’t find the issues with women’s health and gender inequalities offensive then that’s your look out.

Featuredcreature · 08/02/2022 22:23

The case I remember, the patient had actually died because of error, the doctors literally rewrote the notes. If I had been there instead of hearing about it second hand I would have reported, fucking twats.

springydaff · 08/02/2022 22:24

Thanks BadHair and Kohla 👍🏼

Tbh I don't want to know that medics can be shits professionally/in practice. I've certainly experienced endless poor behaviour but refuse to entertain that they're not tip top in practice - or as humanly possible. I know I'm being babyish but please don't disabuse me on that. That's my theory and I'm sticking to it..

purpleme12 · 08/02/2022 22:26

Yeah maybe I'll throw the book out and leave the tele series
Not sure I can cope with things like doctors rewriting what happened

Original poster
ouch321 · 08/02/2022 22:26

@BadHairDayExpert

I thought it was well-acted and pulled no punches. Also - in fairness to Adam Kay - who wrote the screenplay: he has not remotely tried to sanitise it or who he was. He has not been written as likeable and it actually takes a lack of ego to do that and Ben plays it pitch-perfect. You both feel antipathy but also sympathy. What did you think OP?
I thought he was played as a bit ruder/more abrupt on screen than the book. Have no experience of being in the maternity department so cannot comment on how accurately that was depicted.
OP posts:
Blondeshavemorefun · 08/02/2022 22:27

[quote Thymeout]@Blondeshavemorefun

Well, I and hundreds of thousands of people found it informative, entertaining, moving and, yes, funny. It's based on a diary he kept from being a junior doctor to senior registrar. It's v critical of the effect on the NHS of budget cuts and the toll it takes on doctors' and nurses' lives.

I haven't seen the live shows.

Any misogyny went right over my head, but then I don't think Baby, it's cold outside is about date rape.[/quote]
Now I’ve seen e1 I agree with you

I enjoyed it and think very true to life

Mothermorph · 08/02/2022 22:27

I watched it and not having read the books or known much about them, the thing that came through most was the workload and hours of not only the main character but the trainee as well. It's actually frightening when they're making literally life and death decisions.
BTW does anyone know where it was filmed? It looked like Northwick Park Hospital from the outside.

toomuchlaundry · 08/02/2022 22:31

I enjoyed it. Shows the impact of working too long hours

LuckySantangelo35 · 08/02/2022 22:33

@Thymeout
I think it’s really sad the misogyny went over your head because that shows how engrained and entrenched misogyny is in our society and way of seeing the world, if you can’t recognise it as blatant and extreme as it is in this programme. Women are seen as baby carrying vessels and if they ‘tear’ so what?! If it were men’s fucking pereniums being sliced apart I suspect practice would be somewhat different!

EsmaCannonball · 08/02/2022 22:35

I found Adam's constant sarky commentary very wearing. It was like a cutesy version of Bodies (which also showed the deplorable attitude of medical staff towards female patients but at least owned it a bit more).

CovidCorvid · 08/02/2022 22:36

After 15 years of working on a labour ward I’d say it’s all believable scenarios and sadly believable people.

toomuchlaundry · 08/02/2022 22:39

Don’t many consultants see people as bodies/vessels, they just concentrate on the medical procedure rather than feelings of the patient

Haricot · 08/02/2022 22:44

The exterior shots were definitely Ealing Hospital

LuckySantangelo35 · 08/02/2022 22:45

@toomuchlaundry

Don’t many consultants see people as bodies/vessels, they just concentrate on the medical procedure rather than feelings of the patient
Maybe so in the past, however hopefully now physicians are taught about trauma and the mind-body link now whilst at medical school given that we now know more about trauma and its impact than we ever have done
JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 08/02/2022 22:52

I read the book. I couldn't believe what I was reading. It wasn't funny. It was a misogynistic pile of shit. I won't be watching the TV series. The trailers I've seen have confirmed it's all about laughing at women when they're at their most vulnerable. Just dreadful.

fratellia · 08/02/2022 22:59

Hopefully training is trauma-informed, particularly if drs are working in maternity units. 1 in 3 women traumatised from childbirth some go on to have full-blown ptsd.

Also factor in that at least a fifth of women in those maternity units have experienced sexual abuse or trauma in the past, it’s SO important for trauma-informed care at such a deeply vulnerable time.