This Is Going To Hurt - BBC

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I’ve watched the whole series, just didn’t want to stop, it was so good, but also utterly heartbreaking. I’m a junior doctor and even though I think some things have changed for the better since the 2000s, people generally aren’t as mean, although occasionally they can be! And the hours are slightly better, but honestly not by much. I definitely relate to not being able to go to things with friends, turning up late, constant exhaustion etc and I’m only 6 months into the job. And people who aren’t in the medical field just don’t understand it at all, they think we are lazy for wanting to go part time or quit, when part time junior doctors still work the same number of hours as your average full time office worker. The job can damage relationships with people who aren’t in the medical field. It’s to be expected that we will work many weekends and night shifts and we have relatively little control over our schedule, but some friends of mine just do not understand this. I have met several junior doctors who have had to do crazy shift swaps to be able to attend their own wedding. The constant guilt tripping to cover extra shifts is still there, being ridiculously understaffed isn’t uncommon. At times on my on call shifts I feel very worried that several patients are going to deteriorate at the same time and there are just not enough doctors to look after them. Often we have to do the job of 3 people because the phlebotomists understandably don’t want to work on the weekends for the terrible pay they get so we have to do their job as well as our own, and there aren’t enough porters so if you want your patient to get the X-ray or scan that they need you might have to take them there yourself. Relatively often I’m left in charge of the ward on my own, and our poor nurses are also terribly understaffed too and are left looking after far too many patients. But apparently where I work is better than it used to be. We see horrible things happen to people and are then just expected to get back on with the mundane stuff immediately afterwards. You see so much suffering that you have to become slightly numb to it, or it would crush you. And to be honest the pay is crap compared to the number of hours that we do and the huge level of responsibility that you take on. People always think that doctors wages are consultant level, when it takes many years of hard work to get to that. The same with nurses, they absolutely deserve to be paid so much more than they are.

I am surrounded by fantastic colleagues and I think that really is all that gets you through, I’m so lucky to work with wonderful doctors, nurses and healthcare assistants. I also think the environment seems to be more supportive than it was 15 years ago and I think we are getting better at caring for each other, but there’s still a long way to go. I do enjoy the job, and at times I couldn't really imagine doing anything else, but it is hard. I really hope this programme will highlight to the public how difficult it is in healthcare and how tough the job of a junior doctor is. I have met so many other doctors and nurses who are leaving to work in other fields that are better paid and have better work life balance, or are moving abroad to Australia or New Zealand because conditions are so much better. And I can’t blame them, why would anyone with any sense stay?
 
I don't like medical dramas (don't really interest me) and also usually very squimish. However absolutely loving this. The balance of humour and real life is perfect. Love all the characters, likeable but flawed, so like real people. I think knowing how realistic it is helps buy into it.
 
I’ve read his books and loved them, didn’t even realise this was going to be made so will be checking it out! Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
 
Lurker121 said:
Loved the book and have watched episode 1. I agree with pp that he definitely seems to come across as more of an hole in the tv series than the impression I got from the book. However, it does make me chuckle hearing the voice of Paddington Bear saying the F word.
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I knew I had heard his voice before!
 
Lurker121 said:
Loved the book and have watched episode 1. I agree with pp that he definitely seems to come across as more of an hole in the tv series than the impression I got from the book. However, it does make me chuckle hearing the voice of Paddington Bear saying the F word.
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Try watching that show he did with Hugh Grant and hear the voice of Paddington take it up the arse. 😂😂
 
@woman111 Thankyou for sharing your experience and story. It really is one of the toughest professions to be in.

After I read the book and listened to Adam Kay talk about his experiences, it really opened my eyes. To see it played out on screen makes it even more powerful in my eyes. Yes, he’s coming across as an hole, but you can see how it would affect you. The relationship with his parents is another representation of how a career in medicine can affect a family and relationships.

Have watched all of the episodes and loved it, heartbreaking and raw, but lots of funny moments too.
 
Having worked with junior doctors/doctors in some capacity I think an element of being an hole comes with the territory. And at junior level there is so much going on, to learn, so much pressure and self doubt it's unsurprising. It's a journey, self discovery and improvement. They sometimes also have enormous expectation from their parents.
 
I'm 37 weeks pregnant so it's just a little on the nose (!) but I still really enjoyed the first episode. I think Ben Wishaw makes a character who could be an unlikeable arrogant tosser more engaging.

I didn't see misogyny in the first episode. I think it's quite realistic that doctors often speak about their patients in quite callous ways that would shock 'normal' people. In this case he was proven wrong about one patient so I think the show isn't endorsing that view.
 
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