The Secret Doctor by Max Skittle

The Secret Doctor by Max Skittle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - In and out around 2 weeks

Pages - 352

Publisher - Blink

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

Welcome to the life of Dr Max Skittle. Therapist, relationship counsellor, social worker, friend, parent-figure - and, yes: doctor.
Join Max - and his patients - as he takes us on a rollercoaster journey through a year in the life of a doctor: from infected toenails, to wonky elbows, to erectile disfunction, to bed bugs; the happy couple expecting a surprise new baby; the teenage girl struggling with body image issues; the loving family grappling with grief, Max shows us all the highs and crushing lows that come with being a GP - and how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed all our lives forever.
This is what really goes on in your local doctor's surgery - spilt urine bottles, existential crises, emails back and forth with social services, utterly unexplainable health problems and appointments always running late - told by a man who, despite it all, really loves his job.


My Review

I tend to enjoy these books as you get a look into the lives of the healthcare professional(s) and a day or more in the job they do. In this one we have the pseudonym Doctor Max Skittle so the doctor can give an honest account and keep his identity. Max is a gp and this is his story and some of his patients stories. Now heads up, Doctor Skittle swears, humour/wording some people may find offensive as often people forget healthcare workers are people and humour, often dark or sweary is a coping mechanism. So if easily offended these types of books, particularly this one wouldn't be for you.

Max lets us see behind the gp door, the ups and downs of being a doctor, the types of patients, problems, insights, conditions and sometimes inappropriateness of your every day person/patient. I think for me when you see the person behind the job it is so important. Especially now as so many people, not all but a lot scream, abuse, verbally and physically towards the doctor(s) who are trying to help.

We get to see the personal life, worries, issues that Max is going through, the celebrations, achievements, disasters, self doubt all whilst managing the patient load. Some of the interactions make you laugh, cry, want to reach in and hug the patient and or doctor, or a gasp out loud of someone brought what into their gp.

Interesting read, well as I said I do find these books interesting and educational laced with humour and emotion, 4/5 for me this time.

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