Description NHS anaesthetist, comedian and author Ed Patrick injects the Edinburgh Fringe with a gut-punch show about becoming a junior doctor, the NHS, the pitfalls of modern medicine and the power of questioning it. Ed has written and performed on BBC Radio 4, for shows “Now Wash Your Hands” and “Newsjack”, and he has also written for the Guardian about the intersection between medicine and comedy.

It was a draining time for doctors that even their days off did not feel like days off, there were simply days where they were at the hospital and days when they are not. He also created and presented "Infectious Personalities" broadcasted on BBC Radio 2 where his guests include Charlie Brooker and Sindhu Vee. The first part is very light-hearted, and to be honest, he doesn't always inspire confidence as he recounts his experiences. Other things I've done include creating and presenting the pilot Infectious Personalities on BBC Radio 2, where my guests were Charlie Brooker and Sindhu Vee.This was a book that at times was hard to read due to the pure raw emotion and honesty but then within minutes I was gasping for air as I was laughing so much and while I felt some of these stories were over embellished, who doesn't re tell a story and now beef it up a bit? I found I didn’t want to put it down, even when I felt the remembrance of the early days of the Covid Pandemic coming back, because his warmth and humour made it easier to deal with.

There are around 50 episodes featuring guests such as James Acaster, Rose Matafeo, Joe Lycett, Reginald D Hunter and Andy Hamilton. Catch Your Breath moved me from laughter, to moments of remembrance and gave me a whole new appreciation of what working in a hospital is like. This book highlights the importance of the multidisciplinary team within medicine, the role of specialized nurses in anaesthesia and the fact that doctors rely on nurses as they often have a much closer rapport to the patients. He has performed across the UK, including at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and hosts the “Comedians’ Surgery” podcast where he speaks to guests including Joe Lycett, Rose Matafeo and Reginald D Hunter about their health stories and experiences.

The Secret Life" makes you think you will learn, well, some secrets, maybe a little mystery, maybe something naughty the author will admit to. At the same time, perhaps that relatability is why I can’t give it a higher rating, yet I still recommend it to some readers. What is really happening there is unfathomable for the majority of - hopefully - accidental visitors of the surgery room.

Anaesthetist and comedian Ed Patrick shares many funny and touching stories from his journey to working as an NHS specialist and a bit (although not too much, as we’re all sick of it! Hilariously funny, moving and truly insightful, it follows Ed's journey from bewildered medical student in Aberdeen to unflinching anaesthetist on the NHS frontline.As a health care professional I can relate to lots of the stuff discussed within the pages but Ed just has a way of making things absolutely hilarious. I didn't really know much about what an anaesthetist did before reading this book, but I enjoy medical memoirs, so I'd thought I'd give it a read. The author masterfully avoids any hint of bragging or entitlement, presenting the challenges Anesthetists face with humility and authenticity.

Nothing but respect for doctors and all the staff who care and help others at their most vulnerable times. His and his colleagues sense of humanity shines through and I can’t recommend this book enough to all of you. Things always break in the NHS and doctors and other healthcare professionals alike always need to think on their feet and be prepared for the worst case scenario such as a ventilator breaking and the IT systems failing which seems to be a pretty common happening. He also created and presented “Infectious Personalities” broadcasted on BBC Radio 2 where his guests include Charlie Brooker and Sindhu Vee.Yet still they got up and carried on, what other choice did they have and they found humour and a connection with humanity wherever they could.