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Doctor's Notes

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Doctor's Notes

By: Dr Rosemary Leonard
Narrated by: Kirsty Besterman
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About this listen

BBC Breakfast's Dr Rosemary Leonard shares more incredible stories from her career as a GP. 'I'm in the wrong job,' I said to our practice nurse, 'I should definitely have been a detective.' For Dr Rosemary Leonard, a day in her GP's surgery is full of unexplained ailments and mysteries to be solved.

From questions of paternity to apparently drug-resistant symptoms, these mysteries can sometimes take a while to get to the bottom of, especially when they are of a more intimate nature. In her second book about life in her London surgery, Dr Rosemary recalls some of her most puzzling cases...and their rather surprising explanations.

©2014 Dr Rosemary Leonard (P)2014 Headline Digital Hygiene & Healthy Living Medical Professionals & Academics Women Fiction Mystery Surgery Pregnancy

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All stars
Most relevant
It was interesting funny ands sometimes emotional. The last chapter came as completely unexpected. It was very moving.

Can't wait for next one.

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Brilliant story couldn't stop listening lots of short stories which everyone can relate to a real insight into the life of a docter

Excellent

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interesting insights into life as a GP. Not a groundbreaking book, bit still interesting.

oK

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If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

Somebody who hasn't worked in the NHS, specifically in Primary Care in GP surgeries

Has Doctor's Notes put you off other books in this genre?

I am a retired Practice Nurse/Nurse Practitioner of 20 years experience who misses her career and who loves a bit of a reminder of what used to be. However, if any of the GP's I worked with had this attitude, I would have reported them to the BMA! I'm not sure if it was the slightly arch and hectoring delivery but Dr Leonard came across as judgemental, bullying and as having scant regard for confidentiality within the practice. I'm pretty sure that this would not be the case in real life but I was concerned that anyone listening to this who had similar problems would be put off seeing their own GP for fear of the above. Additionally, I felt that Dr Leonard expressed shock and surprise at incidents which are quite common occurrences in General Practice, and that if she really had worked in a Sexual Health clinic in London for some years then she had retained a very low shock threshold! The stereotypical characterisations of "gay sexual experimenter" and "overweight drinker" and "hippy with piercings" et al felt, at times almost offensive. I felt disheartened by this book whereas other books in this genre make me nostalgic or teach me things I did not know. I like to be moved by the care and concern that health care professionals feel for their clients, not invited to laugh at the "stupidity" of people who are overweight, or have sexual or other health problems. In other places it came across as a (very) thinly disguised government health promotion message.

How could the performance have been better?

I felt that that Kirsty Besterman portrayed Dr Leonard as being quite cold, brisk and superior, and this may have skewed the tone of the book. There was little warmth in the tone, the accent was very traditional "cut glass RP" and I felt it detracted from any intimacy about the anecdotes. I pride myself on speaking properly but this tone just put my back up from the first.

You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?

I suppose if the reader had little or no knowledge about the basics of healthy living and looking after oneself then it may be informative, but I have read many better examples of this genre.

Any additional comments?

If you are suffering from a health issue which is causing you embarrassment, please don't be put off by this book. The vast, vast majority of GP s and health professionals are warm, sympathetic, non-judgemental and have iron-clad respect for your confidentiality. And are really not as shockable as Dr Leonard seems to be.

Be disappointed......very disappointed.

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The author states that she “doesn’t judge” her patients, then goes on to demonstrate that she clearly does: on class, race, gender and sexuality. It’s very clear that her approval only lies with white, female, middle-class heterosexual people, to the point that you can't imagine this book being published- or, hopefully, her practicing medicine- today.
In credit to Kirsty Besterman, she does an excellent job of rendering Leonard’s disapproving tone.

Judgmental and homophobic

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