Laying bare the emotional and physical toll of the medical profession in the most frank and candid terms imaginable, Joanna Cannon’s heart-rending memoir of life as a junior doctor is a shocking and disturbing read. Balancing the compassion and commitment of those who work in the NHS with the appalling overwork and disillusionment that has become their reality, Breaking and Mending is an urgent, powerful read.
A few years ago, I found myself in A&E. I had never felt so ill. I was mentally and physically broken. So fractured, I hadn't eaten properly or slept well, or even changed my expression for months. I sat in a cubicle, behind paper-thin curtains and I shook with the effort of not crying. I was an inch away from defeat... but I knew I had to carry on. Because I wasn't the patient. I was the doctor.
In this powerful memoir, Joanna Cannon tells her story as a junior doctor in visceral, heart-rending snapshots. We walk with her through the wards, facing extraordinary and daunting moments: from attending her first post-mortem, sitting with a patient through their final moments, to learning the power of a well- or badly chosen word.
These moments, and the small sustaining acts of kindness and connection that punctuate hospital life, teach her that emotional care and mental health can be just as critical as restoring a heartbeat. In a profession where weakness remains a taboo, this moving, beautifully written book brings to life the vivid, human stories of doctors and patients - and shows us why we need to take better care of those who care for us.
Publisher: Profile Books Ltd
ISBN: 9781788160575
Number of pages: 176
Weight: 264 g
Dimensions: 204 x 138 x 21 mm
Edition: Main
I finished the last sentence of ‘Breaking & Mending’ and sat in silence, once again in complete and utter awe of Joanna Cannon. I have been a huge fan ever since I read an early proof copy of ‘The Trouble With... More
I haven't read any of Joanna Cannon's fiction (although they've been on my list for a very long time), but I follow her on Twitter and find her to be a very interesting, compassionate and thoughtful... More
A beautifully written and heartfelt account of Joanna's life as a junior doctor. It is compassionate, powerful and extremely moving. Such a poignant and significant account of life in the NHS and how... More
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