Life Support: Diary of an ICU Doctor on the Frontline of the Covid Crisis
- Downloads：4676
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-01-09 06:51:16
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Jim Down
- ISBN：0241506328
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
- Download
Summary
'Deeply affecting - a personal memoir that grips， harrows， inspires and， ultimately， uplifts with its vein of deep humanity' Philippe Sands'
An extraordinarily frank book laced with humour and self-deprecation' The Times
As a doctor on the intensive care unit at one of London's top hospitals， Jim Down has spent his life working as healthcare's last resort， where each day reveals a new challenge。 But nothing could prepare Jim and his colleagues for the events of spring 2020， when the Covid-19 pandemic put them on the frontline of a global health crisis。
In Life Support， Jim tells the extraordinary month-by-month story of how， as the world came to a standstill， he and his co-workers faced down the biggest challenge in the history of the NHS。 Full of warmth， honesty and humour， this book is a gripping and moving testament to the everyday heroism of the NHS staff in a global emergency， and an unforgettable insight into what was really happening on the wards as we clapped on our doorsteps。
An extraordinarily frank book laced with humour and self-deprecation' The Times
As a doctor on the intensive care unit at one of London's top hospitals， Jim Down has spent his life working as healthcare's last resort， where each day reveals a new challenge。 But nothing could prepare Jim and his colleagues for the events of spring 2020， when the Covid-19 pandemic put them on the frontline of a global health crisis。
In Life Support， Jim tells the extraordinary month-by-month story of how， as the world came to a standstill， he and his co-workers faced down the biggest challenge in the history of the NHS。 Full of warmth， honesty and humour， this book is a gripping and moving testament to the everyday heroism of the NHS staff in a global emergency， and an unforgettable insight into what was really happening on the wards as we clapped on our doorsteps。
Reviews
Peter Stuart
，
As it says in the title， first hand account of in icu doctor at the forefront and within the cycle of the first vivid wave through London in 2020。 Clarity， honesty， emotion， easily understood scientific explanations and at times stoic humor。 Am I sight into what those in the public NHS health system went through at one of the major London hospitals at a time no one had experience， understanding or an accurate vision of what Covid brought， was and would/could be。 Emotional， touching， inspiring。 4 As it says in the title， first hand account of in icu doctor at the forefront and within the cycle of the first vivid wave through London in 2020。 Clarity， honesty， emotion， easily understood scientific explanations and at times stoic humor。 Am I sight into what those in the public NHS health system went through at one of the major London hospitals at a time no one had experience， understanding or an accurate vision of what Covid brought， was and would/could be。 Emotional， touching， inspiring。 4。5 。。。more
Carol Lowndes
，
This book made Covid very real for me - it gives good insight as to who the heroes of today really are。
Yvette
，
Jim Down is a consultant in critical care and anesthesia at University College London Hospitals。 This book is an account of his experience treating covid-19 patients inside the UCH Intensive Care Unit as the pandemic took hold。 While I do agree that this book is a powerful， moving account of a doctor's life on the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic， I was expecting more in-depth information about not just Covid's reactions in patients， but how he and his colleagues dealt with an unprecedented in Jim Down is a consultant in critical care and anesthesia at University College London Hospitals。 This book is an account of his experience treating covid-19 patients inside the UCH Intensive Care Unit as the pandemic took hold。 While I do agree that this book is a powerful， moving account of a doctor's life on the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic， I was expecting more in-depth information about not just Covid's reactions in patients， but how he and his colleagues dealt with an unprecedented influx of patients （he gives details here and there， but moves quickly to other matters）。 What I enjoyed the most of this book was how Dr。 Down really delivers a moving testament to the everyday heroism of the medical staff in a global crisis and a powerful insight into what really happened behind the wards- all with honesty and warmth。 I seriously felt I was with Dr。 Down right inside the ICU。 There were some very raw anecdotes of patients that died， and Dr。 Down explained in simple medical terms how the Covid affected them， and ultimately shut down their bodies。 Moreover， he detailed （also using simple medical terms） how Drs and medical staff use everything in their hands to save lives。Overall， Im giving 3 stars because:* Even though its a personal recollection of events during the pandemic， I would've liked a bit more context and his personal view perhaps of covid's origins and future （he mentions vaccines very briefly）* I wanted Dr。 Down to include more anecdotes of Covid patients （particularly how covid developed and affected the body， and what measures Drs。 were taking to save lives）* I felt the end was a bit rushed， quickly thanking everyone in one page。 I would've liked perhaps some food for thought about how hospitals and medical staff should adapt and design measures to be more effective shall a new virus/pandemic arise。 。。。more
Shan
，
This book is the story of an ICU doctors experience during COVID's 1st wave， as an NHS worker I am more than aware of the struggles and expansions made to ICU to help cope with the severity of ill people needing ventilation。 But to hear it from a consultant doctor who works in London， and the sheer stress of working with an unknown virus just makes it hit home all over again！！ Definitely recommend This book is the story of an ICU doctors experience during COVID's 1st wave， as an NHS worker I am more than aware of the struggles and expansions made to ICU to help cope with the severity of ill people needing ventilation。 But to hear it from a consultant doctor who works in London， and the sheer stress of working with an unknown virus just makes it hit home all over again！！ Definitely recommend 。。。more
Hazel McHaffie
，
A fascinating behind the scenes look at life for clinicians in ICUs during the pandemic。 Written by a very senior anaesthetist/intensivist who is not afraid to highlight the deficiencies and wrong decisions， but who is also a realist。 He took responsibility for the ethical dimensions and that was the most fascinating aspect of the book for me。 How DO you balance everything when resources are finite， so much about the disease unknown， and death is all around you？
Katie
，
A humbling read。 An important book。 A reminder that Covid is an incredibly dangerous virus that attacks the whole body and oh how fortunate we are to have the wonderful NHS （stop clapping nurses， pay them properly）。
Patricia
，
O。M。G。
Hilary Mak
，
Incredibly moving book from an ICU consultant at University College Hospital， London describing his work through the first wave of Covid in 2020。 Humane and compassionate and fascinating to read as he sets it out against the dates and political interventions。 Nothing but admiration for all those on the frontline - truly humbling。
Sharon Ferrari
，
This book is simply stunning。 The writing is so powerful， so honest， simply stunning。 Thank you Jim for writing it and thank you to you and all of your NHS colleagues for everything you have done and continue to do。
Mr Gibbo
，
A very readable account of the COVID-19 Pandemic （so far。。。） from a London based ICU consultant， Dr Jim Down。With the narrative plotted within the pandemic's progression timeline， Down's candid yet compassionate narrative style provides one doctor's take on COVID-healthcare， and some of the big questions that a modern health system faces。 Patient cases presented notably refrain from the elderly age group。。。A fellow reviewer has commented that every home should have a copy of this book and I woul A very readable account of the COVID-19 Pandemic （so far。。。） from a London based ICU consultant， Dr Jim Down。With the narrative plotted within the pandemic's progression timeline， Down's candid yet compassionate narrative style provides one doctor's take on COVID-healthcare， and some of the big questions that a modern health system faces。 Patient cases presented notably refrain from the elderly age group。。。A fellow reviewer has commented that every home should have a copy of this book and I would agree。 There is much to take away and ponder against the great leveller of our kind: the human body and those that steer the helm towards its fight to survive。 。。。more
Rosanna Rutherford
，