As we are racing into the festive Christmas season, you might be envisioning twinkling lights, gifts under the tree, maybe even some snow on Christmas morning, and those all-important family gatherings. But spare a thought for those donning scrubs and stethoscopes, it’s a whole different ball game. While most of us are opening our presents and binge- eating/drinking/watching telly, our hospitals don’t shut down for the holiday fun. But Adam Kay’s delightfully funny Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas will give you a front-row seat to the festive frenzy that is healthcare during the holidays, and it is anything but a Silent Night.
Once upon a Christmas time Adam Kay was a junior doctor, before giving it up and becoming a BAFTA-winning, multi-million-bestselling author, TV writer and performer. Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas is the follow up to the multi-million-copy bestseller This is Going to Hurt. Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas is a collection of diary entries that span several Christmases during Kay’s tenure in the hectic world of medicine. Each entry is a vignette, capturing the absurdity, chaos, and sometimes the sheer mundanity of hospital life during the festive season.
Kay recounts his time as a junior doctor on the wards of NHS hospitals over the Christmas period. Everything from inappropriate throw away comments to novel uses for a chocolate bar wrapper. The writing is sharp and witty, with a humour that manages to be both dark and light-hearted, often within the same paragraph. It has a good mix of laugh-out-loud anecdotes and moments that tug at the heartstrings.
One moment, you’re chuckling at the tale of a patient named after a contraceptive mishap (yes, someone was actually called ‘Coyle’ because his mum fell pregnant despite having a coil). The next, you’re pondering the poignant reality of a healthcare system under pressure, all wrapped up in Kay’s sharp wit and wry observations.
Overall, this book is an excellent festive stocking filler and a great addendum to This is Going to Hurt (now also a BBC television series – you can watch it on iPlayer). It’s a festive treat that will make you laugh, cringe, and maybe even shed a tear. In fact, at times you could say it’s elfin hilarious!
It is a fun collection of short stories about the predictability of hospitals, patients and medical staff. And it’s not just about medical problems; musical ties and dead batteries bring with them their own problems and after reading this book you will NEVER accept a free pint of lager from anybody!
So, if you’re looking for a dose of holiday cheer with a side of reality check, Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas is not just a series of funny anecdotes; it’s a tribute to the hardworking NHS staff who sacrifice their holidays to care for others. An excellent festive prescription for laughter over the Christmas period and beyond. Just what the doctor ordered. It will have you crying with laughter and, perhaps, just a little more appreciative of the folks who spend their Christmas making sure ours is safe and healthy. And if that doesn’t put you in the Christmas spirit, I don’t know what will. Ho-ho-hospital, anyone?
Silent night. Holy night. All is calm … said no medical professional ever, especially over the festive season!
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £9.99 (Hardback) / £7.99 (Paperback) / £3.99 (Kindle)
For more information, visit www.adamkay.co.uk. Available to buy from Amazon here.
