Duty of Care: One NHS Doctor's Story of the COVID-19 Crisis
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- Create Date：2021-04-05 09:51:42
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Dominic Pimenta
- ISBN：1787395596
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Summary
"A TENSE AND GRIPPING ACCOUNT OF THE UNFOLDING PANDEMIC FROM A DOCTOR WHO WAS THERE。 THE BRAVERY AND DEDICATION OF NHS STAFF ARE EXTRAORDINARY， THE LOOMING DANGERS VIVIDLY DESCRIBED。 I FOUND IT HARD TO PUT DOWN。"
（Dr。 Rachel Clarke， 'Sunday Times' bestselling author of 'Dear Life' and 'Your Life in My Hands'）
*ALL ROYALTIES FROM SALES GO TO HEROES， A CHARITY PROTECTING AND SUPPORTING HEALTHCARE WORKERS。*
The first book to tell the full story of the COVID-19 pandemic， from an NHS doctor working inside hospitals to save lives and combat the virus on the front line。
"We weren't prepared， we weren't listened to， but together we fought it。"
On the 8th of February， Dr。 Dominic Pimenta encountered his first suspected case of coronavirus。 Within a week， he began wearing a mask on the tube and within a month， he was moved over to the Intensive Care Unit to help fight this virus。
'DUTY OF CARE' is the first book to tell the full story of the COVID-19 pandemic from someone on the frontline， working in one of NHS's hardest hit areas。 From the initial whispers coming out of China and the collective hesitation to class this as a pandemic to full lockdown and the continued battle to treat whoever came through the doors。 Dr。 Pimenta tells the heroic stories of how the entire system shifted to tackle this outbreak and how， ultimately， the staff managed to save lives。
KINDLE AND PAPERBACK ⇒ 320 pages
AUDIBLE RUNNING TIME ⇒ 10hrs。 and 4mins。
©2020 Dr。 Dominic Pimenta （P）2020 W。F。 Howes Ltd
（Dr。 Rachel Clarke， 'Sunday Times' bestselling author of 'Dear Life' and 'Your Life in My Hands'）
*ALL ROYALTIES FROM SALES GO TO HEROES， A CHARITY PROTECTING AND SUPPORTING HEALTHCARE WORKERS。*
The first book to tell the full story of the COVID-19 pandemic， from an NHS doctor working inside hospitals to save lives and combat the virus on the front line。
"We weren't prepared， we weren't listened to， but together we fought it。"
On the 8th of February， Dr。 Dominic Pimenta encountered his first suspected case of coronavirus。 Within a week， he began wearing a mask on the tube and within a month， he was moved over to the Intensive Care Unit to help fight this virus。
'DUTY OF CARE' is the first book to tell the full story of the COVID-19 pandemic from someone on the frontline， working in one of NHS's hardest hit areas。 From the initial whispers coming out of China and the collective hesitation to class this as a pandemic to full lockdown and the continued battle to treat whoever came through the doors。 Dr。 Pimenta tells the heroic stories of how the entire system shifted to tackle this outbreak and how， ultimately， the staff managed to save lives。
KINDLE AND PAPERBACK ⇒ 320 pages
AUDIBLE RUNNING TIME ⇒ 10hrs。 and 4mins。
©2020 Dr。 Dominic Pimenta （P）2020 W。F。 Howes Ltd
Reviews
Camio。Dontchaknow
，
This book is exactly what I expected it to be。 Which makes a change。 I've been quite off with some of my expectations of late。 It's a human and understandably frustrating look back on the pandemic， the reaction to and handling of it by individuals and organisations， and the lessons both learned and， unfortunately， not learned。 This book is exactly what I expected it to be。 Which makes a change。 I've been quite off with some of my expectations of late。 It's a human and understandably frustrating look back on the pandemic， the reaction to and handling of it by individuals and organisations， and the lessons both learned and， unfortunately， not learned。 。。。more
Mellisa
，
This is so interesting！ We've all lived through this Covid-19 pandemic， so to see it through someone working at the NHS and have the brutal reality from that point - wow！It's eye-opening， I definitely did not realise how bad things got for the NHS last year。 Dr Dominic Pimenta and his team are absolutely amazing， battling at the hospitals every day and then doing the charity to help get PPE etc too！This book is going to be read for years and years。 This is a huge part of history， one of the bigg This is so interesting！ We've all lived through this Covid-19 pandemic， so to see it through someone working at the NHS and have the brutal reality from that point - wow！It's eye-opening， I definitely did not realise how bad things got for the NHS last year。 Dr Dominic Pimenta and his team are absolutely amazing， battling at the hospitals every day and then doing the charity to help get PPE etc too！This book is going to be read for years and years。 This is a huge part of history， one of the biggest things that has happened。 One of the deadliest。 This book is brutal， honest and exactly what is needed for the NHS staff stories to be told。 。。。more
Casey
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Retelling of what 2020 felt like in the UK。 I listened to the audiobook， and it was a bit dry， but so informative and brought a bit of flashbacks of what it was like to sink into quarantine in Australia。 Interesting to analyze what could have been done differently or if anything would really make a difference。 Terrifying account of how Covid-19 took over our lives。
Nurul Syahirah Mohd Nazri
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Fascinating！ I really love medical book :）Greatly informative and really eye opening which takes you to the frontline of NHS while they discover and deal with the pandemic
Alanah
，
So odd to be reading about the pandemic while we are still in it。 Very intriguing to hear from an NHS doctor on the front lines。 So much respect for those healthcare workers。
Dr。 Appu Sasidharan
，
（Regular Review） "COVID-19 offers us a great opportunity for individual and collective recession。 It is time to go back to the drawing board and rewrite the next phase of our existence。 The upcoming generation has to read about how we fought this Pandemic in order to overcome similar situations during their times。"- Olawale Daniel This book is an engrossing account of Dr。Dominic Pimenta's life as a front-line NHS Doctor in the UK。 We might have read many cursory articles about various people's （Regular Review） "COVID-19 offers us a great opportunity for individual and collective recession。 It is time to go back to the drawing board and rewrite the next phase of our existence。 The upcoming generation has to read about how we fought this Pandemic in order to overcome similar situations during their times。"- Olawale Daniel This book is an engrossing account of Dr。Dominic Pimenta's life as a front-line NHS Doctor in the UK。 We might have read many cursory articles about various people's experiences in dealing with COVID-19 in social media。 This is one of the first books published which has an in-depth analysis of the Pandemic。 He mentions all the events he encountered in chronological order from the 8th of February 2020。 He also vividly says where all we went wrong in dealing with the Pandemic and what we should do to prevent similar mistakes in the future， and how disparate interest groups united in the fight against the Pandemic in a concise yet discerning manner。 "If this was indeed， as people are referring to it， a war， and the front-line will be the hospitals and the GP surgeries， then none of us are soldiers。 We didn't sign out to be in the firing line。 So no one is prepared， and many of us needed help。" What I learned from this book 1） The importance of going on a digital detox once in a while The author tells us about a self-enforced social media ban。 He immaculately construes the importance of taking a break from social media。 "Social media follows your brain with all the right social cues and impulses， but it doesn't feed your soul like an actual interaction should。 It is like junk food for your mind ” 2） How demagogues egregious neglect made the COVID-19 worse in many countriesThis is a vital topic that needs in-depth evaluation to prevent future pandemics。 This happened in many countries， including China and the UK。 The Medical Journal， BMJ mentioned UK's response to covid-19 as "too little， too late， too flawed。" The problem which most of the countries faced was political advisors giving wrong advice to the scientific advisory group。 "Prime Minister Boris Johnson mentioned a strategy called， 'take it on the chin， let the virus pass through the population all in one go。’ 1） This was when there was no vaccine。2） There was no substantial evidence that being infected with the coronavirus actually produces protective immunity。3） COVID 19 spectrum of illness showed about 15% needing intensive care， 1-3% dying， infecting 80% population which means millions will be requiring intensive care。 NHS didn't have the capacity to deal with it， which in turn will cause other people to develop life-threatening conditions other than the coronavirus。 They will also die which they otherwise wouldn't have。'" 3） How all the Doctors from various specialities worked together to face the pandemic crisis The number of patients getting infected and admitted to the hospitals was increasing exponentially。 There was a severe shortage of hospital beds， ventilators， and Doctors。 Doctors from various specialties from both clinical and non-clinical sides came together and worked as a single team to tackle the crisis。 Field hospitals were built in places like Central Park in NYC due to the severe hospital bed shortage。 Even Medical students who had zero exposure to treating patients admirably jumped to the front-line to help in whatever way they can。 “The best Specialists are always the best Generalists as well。” My favourite three lines from this book “You can do Medicine good or fast。 But you can’t do both。” "With the proper information and rationale， which it is my job to provide， people have a nearly limitless capacity to adapt and to rise to the occasion， whether for themselves or their family members。" “Stay informed， stay safe and be kind。” Rating 4/5 This is a must-read book if you are working in health care or if you want to know more about the virus that erased an entire year from all our lives。 。。。more
Sarah Parker
，
The conclusion to this book was so well written and powerful。 The stories of the NHS workers were harrowing， as was the suffering of Covid patients。 A hard read but worth it。
Stephen
，
This book really portrays what it was like for a doctor to work on the COVID19 wards during the first wave in London。 You can sense the doctor's frustration at the initial lack of a lockdown and the lack of PPE。 Pimenta is inspiring in that he focuses on what he can do to help the situation。 He sets up a charity， he manufactures PPE visors using 3 printers as well as being a doctor and a father to two small children。 This book really portrays what it was like for a doctor to work on the COVID19 wards during the first wave in London。 You can sense the doctor's frustration at the initial lack of a lockdown and the lack of PPE。 Pimenta is inspiring in that he focuses on what he can do to help the situation。 He sets up a charity， he manufactures PPE visors using 3 printers as well as being a doctor and a father to two small children。 。。。more
Alicia Duvenhage
，
I really did not like the book。 Give credit where credit is due， but don't blow your own horn in this manner。 I really did not like the book。 Give credit where credit is due， but don't blow your own horn in this manner。 。。。more
Paula McIntyre
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Simply brilliantA raw honest description from the heart of those heroes who will get us who remain through this pandemic。 A man of insight， honours and utmost integrity
j buckland
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Totally un out downableReally enjoyed this book， spoken from the heart。 What an amazing man who has done a？l he can for the NHS。 Very well written too。
Amy Marie
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Very informative book， I learned a lot about Covid and treatment for Covid patients。 A great insight into the impacts on hospitals and staff。 Definitely worth a read。
Nuala J Nagy
，
Just a little insight into the wonderful，stressful，caring life of our nhs staffMust be both heart breaking and emotionally draining for the staff。 Thank you one and all。 Read it see just a small insight
Anna Williams
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I’m not sure if ‘enjoyed’ is the right word for this book but it was a fascinating and tragic read charting the unfolding of the pandemic and the piss-poor response from the UK government。 I did feel the book was a little wordy and he could have done with a decent editor！
Adela Cacovean
，
I mostly decided to pick up this book since it was available on NetGalley's "read now" audiobooks。 September 2020 was a bit too early to publish such a book since not all the puzzle pieces are revealed， but I'm guessing it was a matter of hitting the iron while it was hot。 Dr。 Domnici Pimenta talks about his experience moving from Cardiology to an Intensive Care Unit in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic。 He covers everything starting from the first 2 UK COVID-19 cases in January when he was tr I mostly decided to pick up this book since it was available on NetGalley's "read now" audiobooks。 September 2020 was a bit too early to publish such a book since not all the puzzle pieces are revealed， but I'm guessing it was a matter of hitting the iron while it was hot。 Dr。 Domnici Pimenta talks about his experience moving from Cardiology to an Intensive Care Unit in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic。 He covers everything starting from the first 2 UK COVID-19 cases in January when he was training in Cardiology。 Listening to this at the end of 2020/beginning of 2021， it was very disheartening to remember how we were all fooled it won't get this serious， like there was no way it would affect the lives of people in other continents and get global。 I remember myself trying to calm a patient （I'm a pharmacist） when the first cases outside of China were starting to appear。 However， I feel lucky that in Romania， the measures were taken very quickly according to WHO's recommendations， despite public outrage。 At the opposite pole， UK treated everything with a surprising lightness which turned out as it wow-what-a-surprise did。 Duty of Care didn't really tell me anything I didn't know， only reminded me how frustrating being an ignored healthcare specialist is。 I really hope Dr。 Pimenta waited until the end of the pandemic to have the full picture before publishing a book about it。 。。。more
Isla Crockford
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During parts of this book I really struggled to put it down！ Highlights the sinking feeling of COVID-19 statistics increasing and the learning curbs the government will now see。 The chapter where it describes the 8pm clap for carers and the how Dom felt， gave me a spine tingling sensation as a healthcare worker myself。 It shows the great things that came out of a bad time！
Lynne
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Audiobook review。 Read by the author in a dull monotone。 He thinks he’s the dogs bollox as a doctor， and maybe he is， but he’s a rubbish writer。 Donated the royalties for this book to the charity he founded （and takes a salary from）。 Disappointed
Penni Hollins
，
I must admit I expected this to be a bit more in the thick of it with the horror that is Covid， but in saying that it was fascinating hearing how the doctors have dealt with things that you would never expect and the extent that they have gone to in helping people。
Jackie Slater
，
Very powerful account of life on the frontline during the first pandemic。
Nicole
，
This is a eye opening read by Dominic Pimenta a doctor who has experienced the crisis of Covid 19 and the impact it has on soo many people。 He juggled so much and with so much passion， being a doctor ， having a crash course in intensive care， setting up a charity to help fund PPE ， helping to fund a hospice that would have closed without the charity’s help and many other things， he supported so many colleagues， and tried to keep his family and friends safe。 I throughly recommend this book ， if y This is a eye opening read by Dominic Pimenta a doctor who has experienced the crisis of Covid 19 and the impact it has on soo many people。 He juggled so much and with so much passion， being a doctor ， having a crash course in intensive care， setting up a charity to help fund PPE ， helping to fund a hospice that would have closed without the charity’s help and many other things， he supported so many colleagues， and tried to keep his family and friends safe。 I throughly recommend this book ， if you do， make sure you read the Addendum 。。。more
Rebecca Sims
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This is a DNF。 I think if the COVID-19 pandemic was all over and a distant memory I would have enjoyed the book but it’s too current for me to continue。
Samantha Thomas-domingo
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Covid non fiction。。fascinating and alarmingDominic writes honestly， with context about the emerging covid crisis， initial feeling of paralysis and how it felt to work through the first wave。 The book resonated with me as someone who was similarly alarmed and frustrated by the cognitive dissonance and inaction of senior nhs manager and government to recognise， prepare for and intervene in the pandemic。 I recommend this book for all nhs managers， staff， health policy experts and people seeking the Covid non fiction。。fascinating and alarmingDominic writes honestly， with context about the emerging covid crisis， initial feeling of paralysis and how it felt to work through the first wave。 The book resonated with me as someone who was similarly alarmed and frustrated by the cognitive dissonance and inaction of senior nhs manager and government to recognise， prepare for and intervene in the pandemic。 I recommend this book for all nhs managers， staff， health policy experts and people seeking the truth about healthcare professionals in a crisis。 。。。more
Elle
，
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this， Dr Pimenta has a lovely soothing voice which was really needed when reliving those tense days in February and March of 2020 before the government announced a lockdown and of course with his stories of being on the covid wards during the first wave。 As I listened to the audiobook， I didn’t notice any grammatical errors or feelings that the book was rushed as others have mentioned。 I love medical memoirs， and apparently I’m interested in different people’s r I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this， Dr Pimenta has a lovely soothing voice which was really needed when reliving those tense days in February and March of 2020 before the government announced a lockdown and of course with his stories of being on the covid wards during the first wave。 As I listened to the audiobook， I didn’t notice any grammatical errors or feelings that the book was rushed as others have mentioned。 I love medical memoirs， and apparently I’m interested in different people’s responses to the pandemic， （potentially as I myself ended up branded a Key-worker - supermarket）。 So this was a comfortable 4 star for me。 Only lost a star as it ended on what I believe to be too optimistic a note when we consider it was written in August， it was published too early。 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 。。。more
E L
，
Loved this book。 Very current and an inside view of the pandemic。
Evie Chowdhury
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Love to NHS
Gemma （Bookish & Brews）
，
As soon as I saw this I knew it would be a must read。 I wanted hear it ‘all from the mouth of someone that was actually there’ rather than what we see / read in the news。 It was strange reading about the start of the pandemic。 How laid back people were， how unsure everyone was， even doctors， about what covid really was， and if they should be worried but then the rising panic soon began。 I feel like I don’t need to say it， because if you don’t already know this， where have you been？ Under a rock？ As soon as I saw this I knew it would be a must read。 I wanted hear it ‘all from the mouth of someone that was actually there’ rather than what we see / read in the news。 It was strange reading about the start of the pandemic。 How laid back people were， how unsure everyone was， even doctors， about what covid really was， and if they should be worried but then the rising panic soon began。 I feel like I don’t need to say it， because if you don’t already know this， where have you been？ Under a rock？ But the NHS are incredible。 The staff - from doctors and nurses to porters and cleaners - are actual heroes and this country should be so so soo grateful for everything they have done and continue to do。 These people， are just normal people like me and you who have chosen to risk their own lives， as well as that of their families to save the lives of others as well as holding this country together。 I found it overwhelming that there were times that even Dr Pimenta felt out of his depth - times when he didn’t know what to do as a doctor as they begin shifts in ICU。 The fact that he was not only working for the NHS but then decided to start a charity is mind blowing。 I do hope the love for the NHS continues。 Once the virus is under control （the best it can be） they are still going to be overwhelmed by the backlog of work that’s not been done over the last year because of covid。 I also want give a cheeky shout out to my mum， a staff nurse at our local hospital。 Even though her job has changed incredibly over the last year and she continues to put on her uniform and faces the unknown。 I have always and will always be proud of her❤️ Definitely worth a read， overwhelming in places when you find out the level of care the covid positive receive and what is really done to save their lives。 。。。more
Janet
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I read this book having worked with Dominic and wanted to read about his claims of being a front like doctor through the first wave。 Dominic was not front line and did the odd shift like many of us looking after Covid-19 patients， far fromIntensive care doctors。 It’s actually an insult to those who were frontline。 He left cardiology as very few could stand to work with him and he had little chance of progressing （not as he claims because of Dominic Cummings- this was just another publicity stunt I read this book having worked with Dominic and wanted to read about his claims of being a front like doctor through the first wave。 Dominic was not front line and did the odd shift like many of us looking after Covid-19 patients， far fromIntensive care doctors。 It’s actually an insult to those who were frontline。 He left cardiology as very few could stand to work with him and he had little chance of progressing （not as he claims because of Dominic Cummings- this was just another publicity stunt）。 He also pays himself a wage from his charity， so yes all donations will go to him。 Do not read an account from a hypocrit and liar。 I’m surprised sources are not checked before publishing books （and so many wonder how he had time to write this whilst ‘working frontline’。 The NHS is better off without him！ 。。。more
Srishti
，
Anybody who still isn't following the lockdown rules must read this。 Pained to read first hand accounts of the consequences of Covid and NHS cuts on the front line workers。 Anybody who still isn't following the lockdown rules must read this。 Pained to read first hand accounts of the consequences of Covid and NHS cuts on the front line workers。 。。。more
Britt Gronemeyer
，
Although this book wasn’t the type I would normally be interested in， I found it an essential read during the current times。 It evokes sympathy for NHS workers， putting in perspective their struggles during the pandemic。 For those who underestimate the pandemic， I highly recommend you read this book。
Judy
，