A fascinating insight into the world of prisons which the majority of us do not get to witness first hand. The stories of the inmates are at times harrowing, but the compassion and empathy of the prison doctor shine through. I shall be recommending this to my book club as our next read.

I enjoyed this searing and honest account of how an excellent GP had had enough of the system and found herself working in the prison service.

She tells it as it is and provides an in-depth account of how prisoners are looked after and also tells us about some of the key incidents and stories that she witnessed and played a part in.

Well worth a read.

I’ve never really thought about healthcare in prisons. For someone like myself, with a pretty privileged background, I’ve never really needed to think about it. The Prison Doctor has opened my eyes to some of the tasks medical professionals undertake in such an environment, and some of the struggles they encounter in order to try and help their patients.

One of the main feelings I got while reading this was the large amount of compassion Dr Amanda Brown has for her patients, and the sometimes truly awful situations that have led to them being in prison. We follow Brown as she leaves her job as a community GP to working in a young offender’s institute, then a men’s prison and finally a women’s prison. Every job is varied, fast paced and harrowing, but it’s her time within the women’s prison that stands out the most. These women she treats are often so institutionalised that they feel safer within the prison walls, constantly reoffending to remain inside because it’s better than a life spent on the streets, wrapped up in prostitution or domestic abuse. There’s one particular woman who’s so ashamed of an ulcer on her leg because of the smell that she wraps it in sanitary towels rather than go to the doctor for help. She’s become so use to thinking that she’s worthless that she doesn’t see herself as worthy of help. That made me so sad to think that really, a lot of these women just need someone to talk to. And that’s what Dr Brown does. She listens, never judges, as her eyes are opened to this new world.

The writing is good too. It’s a quick read, structured and emotional without getting too bogged down in facts or opinions. Dr Brown lets the stories and the people speak for themselves, and I think it’s this simplicity that makes it work so well. It’s certainly brought to my attention a forgotten route in healthcare, and might make me think twice about all those missed appointments we get at work from prisoners who fail to turn up for their MRI scans in the future. The level of responsibility is seriously high too - often Dr Brown has to fight to get her patients admitted to hospital when the prison guards are severely understaffed, or is often the first on scene to a suicide attempt, up to her elbows in blood. It’s high risk, high adrenaline stuff.

Fascinating read, that’s made me think above and beyond my own career.

Amanda Brown is a GP, but when bureaucracy and targets get too much she starts working in the prison system.
These are the stories of the prisons she works in - with both men then women - and how she can make a real difference as a doctor and confidante.
It is clear she is a particular kind of doctor - caring and compassionate - and this is much appreciated by the her patients who readily open up to her. They share sad and familiar tales of abuse and lives under the influence of drugs.
What was most interesting to me was the stories behind what led these women to offend and the huge problem of addiction at the root of many crimes. Also the vulnerability that lies behind a tough exterior.
This is an easy read - quite a short book - and I got through it very quickly. However, the sentiment in it will stay with me. If only all doctors were as caring as Dr Brown!

The Prison Doctor was such an interesting read, I really struggled putting my kindle down, what an amazing, inspiring doctor she is, I highly recommend this book.

I really enjoyed this book. Amanda decides to leave behind GP land where the politics are enough to drive the sanest person mad! She starts working in a male prison before moving on to a female one. What is obvious throughout the books how much she cares for the prisoners - some might say too much but most people deserve a second chance. I found it an easy read with a good insight to what life must be like inside,

Amanda was a GP in a small village for decades before being driven away by the new policies and taking on a new challenge in a young offenders institution. It's a really interesting insight into the prison system and the reasons why some people are incarcerated. Amanda clearly cares about her patients and it makes for a really great read. I flew through this pretty quickly and thought it was really educational and a good, quick read.

There is a glut at present of various medical professionals telling their tales either on a blog or in a book, it was interesting to read a book about an environment that I have little or no experience of personally, the book flows well and the author gives a sense of the daily hardships and frustrations that had to be dealt with