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Charles Godden
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Not in the Best of Health: The forthright and entertaining memoirs of an NHS paediatrician Paperback – November 14, 2022

by Charles Godden (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars 168 ratings
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The NHS is facing the greatest crisis since its inception in 1948. One of the UK’s most beloved institutions has been brought to its knees through underfunding, bad management and political meddling. Morale has slumped so low in 2022 that more than half of advertised consultant physician posts in England and Wales are unfilled. Nurses are leaving the profession in droves, and those who remain have voted for a nationwide strike. Piling on the misery, reports by Donna Ockenden and General Sir Gordon Messenger expose alarming flaws in healthcare.

How did it come to this? Not in the Best of Health describes a medical career stretching from that of a fledgling student, to that of a worn out and disillusioned senior consultant paediatrician. In Charles Godden’s sharply observed memoir, stories of sick children and those who treated them are described with candour, humour and insight gained over three decades working in hospitals stretching from Papua New Guinea to the UK.

If you want to know why the NHS is failing, and what might be done to save this most treasured institution, read this book.


EARLY REVIEWS

‘Not in the Best of Health will entertain and shock. This is an outstanding medical narrative from Godden who records a life in paediatrics and pulls no punches documenting his experiences of clinical medicine and the frustrations of NHS administration. His integrity and experience shine throughout with equal amounts of humour and poignancy.
His clinical scenarios are elegantly described such that lay readers will completely understand. This book should be read by anyone with even a passing interest in medical literature or with aspirations to work with children in the medical sphere.’ - Professor Neil Wilson MB BS DCH FRCPCH FSCAI

‘Spanning three decades of reorganisation, over-management, declining consultant autonomy and sleepless nights this inimitable memoir shines a sharp light on our parlous NHS. Patient focussed and moving, funny but serious,
it is a must read.’ - Professor of primary care (general practice) Anthony Harnden

‘WARNING! This is an honest reflection written with great humour and enviable humility of a career in medicine. Toe curling in places, totally relatable, and an essential read for those in, around, or interested in healthcare.’ - Dr Craig Marshall, Intensive Care Medicine Registrar

‘Whilst maintaining his effortless wit, Charles presents an honest account into the occasional highs and tragic lows of an NHS paediatrician. I really enjoyed the read and it certainly highlights the struggles I have ahead of me!’ - Robbie Hill, a first year medical student

‘I rarely read medical books for recreation – too much of a busman’s holiday. However, perhaps because we both qualified in 1983 and are both paediatricians, I found many of Charles Godden’s recollections from the front line resonated with me. His views are sometimes provocative and some readers may differ with his forthright opinions but many of the personal tragedies and uplifting successes ring very true.’ - Professor Sir Terence Stephenson, DM, FRCPCH, FRCP, Past chair of GMC and past president Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
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  1. Print length
    510 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    November 14, 2022
  4. Dimensions
    5.5 x 1.28 x 8.5 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1913719766
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1913719760
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Goldcrest Books International Ltd
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 14, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 510 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1913719766
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1913719760
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.63 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.28 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 168 ratings

About the author

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Charles Godden

Charles Godden

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I studied medicine at Charing Cross Hospital, London, qualifying as a doctor in 1983. After posts in the UK, Western Australia and Papua New Guinea I was appointed to a newly created paediatric consultant post in Surrey in 1995. I resigned in 2016 and worked as a non-executive director on a hospital board and as an expert witness for the medical defence, before trying my hand at writing. I now spend my time chopping wood, following the England cricket team and supporting Norwich City Football Club.

My first book, Not in the best of health, achieved a triple number one rating on Amazon within its first month and sold over 800 copies in the first four months. Reviews on Amazon have been startling, with 88% giving 5 stars.

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4.6 out of 5 stars
168 global ratings

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  • Greg Nettheim
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating!
    Reviewed in Australia on December 27, 2022
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    It was an interesting and inciteful account of charles' experiences in various roles, locations and experiences across the globe. Written in, what I see as, a self deprecating manner. Good to know that some doctors aren't completely up themselves and, at the end of the day, principally about their patients best interests. I highly recommend it as a good read. Poor H & W, what patience they must have had. Enjoy your retirement charles, you need the time to take stock of a life well lived, and that has culminated in this product.
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  • Dr Daniel Connor
    5.0 out of 5 stars Should be read by anyone who works in or uses the NHS.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 17, 2022
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This memoir of a career in the NHS is shocking, humbling, laugh out loud funny, frightening, heart warming and a very well written warts and all critique on the progression of the NHS over the last four decades. The early years of crazy shifts and the craziness it creates (think Jed Mercurio’s Cardiac Arrest series) leads on to an over-regulated over meddled with modern NHS that doesn’t work well for clinicians or patients (think Adam Kay’s This Will Hurt). Both of the above left medicine as junior doctors. Dr Godden describes sticking with it through a career with a wry and amusing insight from all facets - including as a patient and as a senior manager. All of this is carried through using patient vignettes, historical events and cricket to balance against the dissolution of the much loved NHS through recurrent reformation. Sensible suggestions for how things could be fixed/improved end the book - this should be on every MPs Christmas list. Thoroughly recommended. No medical knowledge required.
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  • caroline dufourcq
    5.0 out of 5 stars Why doctors and nurses no longer want to work in the NHS
    Reviewed in Germany on December 16, 2022
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Extremely interesting, amusing and informative book. A mixture of humour and tragedy. I feel I now understand what doctors have to face in their working day. I couldn’t put it down!
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    caroline dufourcq
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Why doctors and nurses no longer want to work in the NHS

    Reviewed in Germany on December 16, 2022
    Extremely interesting, amusing and informative book. A mixture of humour and tragedy. I feel I now understand what doctors have to face in their working day. I couldn’t put it down!
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  • Adrian Michaels
    5.0 out of 5 stars A funny and cozy treat, also deadly serious with loads of insight
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 13, 2022
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    It is always a treat when people lift the lid on what really goes on in jobs that are so close to us. Godden's fascinating career in paediatrics is told delightfully, with great humour and compassion for colleagues and patients, and amid the breezy page-turning style are some horrific revelations about the inner workings of the NHS. There are also breezy page-turning revelations about Godden's ill-fated following of the England cricket team, and much else besides. This a cozy memoir, by someone who has had a fascinating career, and it contains some serious observations and advice for the future of public health services worldwide. We should pay attention.
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  • Kevin
    4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 24, 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This is an interesting book covering a working life in the NHS. It well written and I liked the structure based on case histories. The were some important insights and the honesty was courageous. But I found the the criticism of the NHS non clinical management was too one sided for me. Many of the problems in the health service are down to the behaviours of doctors in management positions, their egos and the conflicts of interest driven by private practice which lead to power struggles. A more balanced account would have included this. But definitely worth reading.
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