If you have ever been curious about the life of a modern diverse inner city NHS GP in Britain today, then I would recommend you read this stellar memoir from Dr Amir Khan. When I was reading this I did not realise he was already famous, having appeared on TV and has a huge following. This is so well written and so easy to read, he relates experiences and anecdotes from his 15 years as a GP, a profession which is a vocation rather than a job, which is just as well because the nature of his role has changed drastically through the years. When he began it was an attractive profession, this is no longer so, you have to achieve the impossible in the 10 minutes allocated to each patient, where appointments are hard to come by, in a NHS facing unprecedented pressures. There is the fear of complaints, rising levels of paperwork, long hours, tight budget constraints, burnout, an ageing population leading to increasingly complex medical issues and the requirement for changing ways of delivering a service in the era of Covid 19 and lockdown. Now the NHS struggles to recruit GPs, and many are quitting, like Amir's friend, Daniel.

There is no such thing as a normal day for a GP, Amir relates with humour and wit, the medical issues and the lives of his patients, an emotional roller coaster of a ride that touches on both the highs and lows, from having difficult conversations, delivering the worst of news, the death and grief over losing patients he has got to know so well through the years to the relief when, against all the odds, things work out, as when a young girl whose life had comprised of continually being in and out of hospitals, gets a life saving heart transplant in time. Some of what happens makes the mind boggle as when a stranger in a garden centre pulls his trousers down in public, with Amir forced to diagnose his groin rash and the remedy, there are fears when a patient is seen with a hammer, and patients who bring their cats in with them for their appointments, triggering an allergic reaction in a trainee GP. Amongst the pus, blood, and bodily fluids that are the norm, there is domestic violence, alzheimer's dementia, STDs, and so much more in a practice serving a impoverished and deprived local community.

Given the stresses and pressures, its a wonder that Amir has not been ground down, but he manages to still love his job, thanks to the odd lights at the end of the darkest of tunnels, when what he does makes a life changing difference and where there is the occasional miraculous outcome. I was seriously disturbed as I read about the terrifying abuse GPs and NHS have to handle, and the threats and intimidation when Amir refuses to give a unwarranted sick note to a aggressive patient. This is a great memoir, utterly compulsive, it made me laugh and cry, and so informative, and I must admit I wished Dr Khan was my GP! Highly recommended. Many thanks to Random House Ebury for an ARC.

The Doctor Will See You Now by Amir Khan is a thought provoking and insightful book. From his early stages as a GP up until the current Coronavirus this follows through it all.

A wonderful thought provoking insight into the life of a gp. Gp’s don’t have all the answers, they question every decision made and Dr Khan let’s us into his life, it’s ups and downs. The NHS is a wonderful service that goes above and beyond especially at this time of the unknown with the coronavirus. Dr Khan what a wonderful person you are both inside and out

Follow Dr Amir Khan from his early days of being a. doctor, through to a well-established GP and up to present day with the coronavirus pandemic. A truly insightful look at the pressures felt by GP’s and the work that goes unseen by their patients.

This is a great book. I follow Amir on twitter and his personality comes through really well on the page. There is a great deal of warmth and humour in what must be at times an emotionally challenging job - I can understand why people would like to have him as their GP. Amir also talks about the more challenging aspects of working in general practice and how the current Covid 19 is affecting it.

We need more people like Amir in the NHS!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.

I really enjoy these kinds of books, so when I saw this one I knew it would be on my list to read! Dr Amir Khan has been a GP for 15 years and has also appeared on TV shows, most notably “GP’s Behind Closed Doors”. This book is a snapshot of his career with anecdotes and stories from being a newly qualified GP right up to being a partner in his current surgery. Unusually, it continues up to present day, covering Dr Khan’s experiences of being a GP through the beginnings of the first Covid-19 lockdown this country has ever seen.

This book is a heart-warming, amusing and sometimes heart-breaking recollection of stories that he, and I expect almost every other GP, has been through. We hear about the patient with a hammer up his sleeves, cats triggering an allergic reaction in the surgery and, sadly, having to break the news to the relatives of coronavirus patients over the phone. The stories brought tears to my eyes, not just through sadness but through amusement too.

The book flowed well and kept me interested with both his professional stories and his own personal history. It didn’t dwell too much on medical facts and figures, leaving that for the textbooks. It did however give us an insight into what it is really like to be a GP in today’s world. You may assume they earn 6 figure salaries, work 9-5 jobs and drive big flashy cars (actually, some do, I’ve seen them!!), but if Dr Khan is anything to go by that is far from the reality of it. He comes across as a genuinely nice guy and a great doctor, trying to provide first class service in a world of NHS cuts and uncertainty and 10-minute appointments. We definitely need more Dr Khan’s in this world! Great book and would definitely recommend it!

I like to read a memoir every now and again. This one was great. I laughed and I cried. There were highs and there were lows. I was just thinking I wonder what this would read like with the world as it is and then it did just that.

I couldn’t put this book down. I read it in a day. This was a very eye opening and enlightening read.

I love reading books written by those who work in the medical profession, so this piqued my interest.

Rarely sensationalised, the role of the GP is perhaps viewed by the public as the more mundane end of the medical spectrum in comparison to the adrenaline pumped scenes we see in shows such as 24 Hours in A&E, or on shows such as E.R. or House.

But what Dr Khan has produced is a book that shows just how vital and at times literally live saving our GPs are, quietly working away in the background. I admit to thinking that being a GP was pretty cushty and uncaring (well, from some of my past experiences anyway). I guess I had built up an image of Doctors who were well paid, worked sociable hours, were a bit dismissive and hung their stethoscope up before closing their office door each day. By the end any scepticism I had about just how much Doctors care about their patients had well and truly melted away and been replaced with a new found respect.

Written with a deep sense of caring I was able to follow some of the cases Dr Khan has dealt with during his career so far. It is quickly obvious that this is not 'just a job' and the genuine respect and desire to help those in need oozed off the page.

The characters and their tales brought me to tears more than once, and also made me chuckle a few times too. There is even a section about working with Covid-19 which is a real eye opener and reminder of the risks that our NHS staff face on a daily basis battling this awful virus.

This is a wonderfully written, powerful book that takes the reader behind the scenes and into the consultation room where we are reminded just how precious and fragile life can be, as well as how being cared for can never be underestimated.

In case you hadn't guessed, I loved this book and it will stay with me long after reading that final page.

This book is absolutely brilliant and fully deserves the 5 star rating!! What a wonderful insight into the working life of a GP. Dr Khan's writing is completely honest, funny at times, sad but mainly warm, poignant, emotional and caring. What an amazing doctor you are. It was very endearing to read about the author's vulnerable side as well as his professional side. Even the best GPs can have self doubts and worries. The patients written about in the book just came to life and I felt like I knew them too! I even shed a tear at one point and experienced some goosebumps!
This book most definitely shows the immense stress and unrelenting workload doctors in general practice are under whilst at the same time showing what a wonderful meaningful vocation being a GP is and what a privilege it is to be in a position to care and look after members of the public. An outstanding book that I may even have to read again. I was reading into the early hours with this one! Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for enabling me to read and review this wonderful book.

Dr Khan has written a very readable and insightful memoir on his career as a GP so far.

With his career spanning 15 years, I am sure there’s plenty more this book could have included, but the anecdotes it does contain have been well selected to cover a range of experience. We are provided with glimpses into not only the regular clinic work but also home visits, the daily running of the clinic, relationships between clinic staff and a little on his home life and the experiences of a fellow GP. The full range if emotions are also covered with Dr Khan recounting patient stories that range from the comical to the heartbreaking and some that are almost unbelievable!

At the heart, is a compassionate GP doing his best to provide care similar to the old school family GP whilst dealing with the modern day demands of the healthcare system. When we have contact with primary care it can be easy to forget about the individuals in the system, Dr Khan does a good job of reminding us just how hard the job can be while also emphasising with his patients.

Towards the end of the book, Dr Khan also includes some of his early experiences with dealing with Covid-19. Dr Khan doesn’t shy away from displaying vulnerability and provides that much needed human element to the frontline staff that have often been lauded as hero’s during this time.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Author, Dr Amir Khan first came to the attention of the British public, in a TV series entitled ‘GP’s Behind Closed Doors’, which followed a typical day in the lives of hard working GP’s in a busy NHS inner city practice. Dr Khan was popular with both patients and staff due to his kind, caring, charismatic and humorous personality. In his memoir, he lets us see how a busy inner city practice provides both opportunities, and huge challenges at the same time, whilst regaling us with some of the patients and medical cases that have arrived in his consulting room.

I really loved this memoir, it was told in a down to earth manner, and, though utterly heartbreaking at times, (and I’m not embarrassed to say that I shed more than a few tears) it also had its share of laughter and joy, and how very timely that the publication of this memoir, arrives in the year that Covid-19 has turned the world upside down. Dr Khan allows us to see his vulnerable side when he comes face to face with his first Covid-19 patients, admitting that he was terrified. The NHS has its limitations, with services being seriously stretched, but it is still an incredible organisation, and my undying thanks go to all those dedicated key workers, who look after us on a daily basis, but especially in this time of crisis when they’re giving their all, and then some! You’re all wonderful, as is this memoir!

I enjoy a medical biography, as a healthcare professional myself and I found this to be an easy and quick read with some funny anecdotes and touching stories.

I have always like Dr Khan from his TV show and as with on the screen, in this book he comes across as a loving and caring doctor who puts his patients and their wellbeing at the highest priority.

I give the book three stars, it was perfect for a rainy day read, but it didn't blow me away and I don't think it would be on the list for a reread, but I will recommend to my colleagues.

Dr Amir Khan has written a superb, honest and interesting medical memoir. He is exactly the type of GP one would want to see for any medical issue. He is the ideal doctor, honest, caring, compassionate, hardworking and a thoroughly decent chap.
His book is brilliant, he details his career, he protects the identity of patients and gives an insight into life as a GP today. Everyone, including most GP’s, would love to go back to the good old days, when patients had a named GP, could get an appointment whenever they wanted with their own GP, when there was continuity of care, with lengthier appointment times and full satisfaction with the service. However, due to continuing cuts to the service that is just not possible any longer; and the GPs and all the surgery staff are doing their utmost to work in the system they have.
The book has some wonderful stories featuring patients, such as kind Mr Patel and the brave little Emily. The stories evoke every emotion.
The memoir is up to date and the final chapter deals with Dr Khan’s work in the Covid19 era. I was really surprised reading this chapter, and not previously aware of the work undertaken in this manner by GPs during this time.
It is a fascinating read and one which I highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I stayed up until 1am finishing this. I love Dr Amir, I have followed him on Twitter for ages, and have chatted with him there a couple of times. I’ve been looking forward to his book since I heard about it, and when I saw it was on Netgalley I knew I had to request it. I went from reading Dear NHS, straight to this one, and they are both so different.

Dr Amir talk to us about starting his career as a GP, and takes us trough some of the most memorable of his patients. I will say I cried (I cry at most things to be fair, but this will get you), there was more than one really touching story. The story of Tom, broke my heart, and the final words of his chapter got me, and the little girl Emily, who features quite a bit throughout the book. There were some funny stories too though, ones that made me laugh out loud (a hammer?), and ones that made me silently giggle.

It ends on a chapter about what’s going on today with Covid-19, and it shows just what GP surgeries are going through. How little time they (and everybody else) had to get ready for this new way of seeing patients with only telephone calls, unless it was serious and they needed either to be seen by a GP or at hospital.He talks of getting ready to work on the ‘red Zone’, and his fears of catching Covid.

Dr Khan shows just how much of a lovely person he is, the way he deals with his patients at the surgery, and also goes out of his way and beyond to take care of them outside of the surgery. His kindness will stick with me, and I’m betting a lot of other people who have had the pleasure to be in his life.

A really good book, and a great look into the life of a GP, and once again I will say, a very kind man.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read 'The Doctor Will See You Now'.

Having read many books by hospital doctors about their experiences, it was good to read a book written by a GP. I found it very interesting to understand the complexities of the role of the GP and Dr Khan was very honest about the positives and negatives of his job. The patient stories were sometimes entertaining and sometimes terribly sad.

For the publisher - A slight error - Jodie is mentioned having four boys and then later she has two boys and then after this, four boys.

Great book!

I really liked this medical memoir by Dr Amir Khan. It's 15 years since he qualified, and 10 years since he became a GP.

I really liked the tone, and his personality showing through. A bit jokey, but not daft. Good, mild humour now and then. Some serious situations, and some funny scenes too for light relief. A good balance. It was excellent, and just my type of book. I've read many doc memoirs, this is one of the best, and contains some different cases and scenarios to the others.

I didn't already know of Dr Amir Khan, or realise he was on telly- but my mum knew. She said she'd watched the programme and said, "Oh yes, I've watched him on TV-everyone wants to see him, everyone wants him as a doctor". And you can see why. Sounds a great bloke-and a great book!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me an advance copy of this in return for an unbiased review. I haven’t watched Dr Khan’s shows, but I had become aware of him on Twitter, and his boundless positivity and enthusiasm for his work, family, garden and life in general never fail to lift the spirits. So I was sure his book would be excellent. And so it proved. Sometimes books like this can come across a little preachy or smug, but Amir manages to balance self deprecation with a measured confidence in not only his ability, but that of the team around him. There are scenes to make you laugh, and ones you’ll find make your eyes a little teary. Definitely recommend - and I hope there’ll be more books!

I'm a sucker for these medical memoirs in book form and this one doesn't disappoint. Being a member of a large, city centre, teaching GP practice the behind the scenes look was great, and the mix of stories a great mixture of funny, sad & hopeful.

Khan is an engaging writer and the bang up to date Covid-19 additions help explain how GP surgeries are coping.

My one sadness was that Khan is so good at compartmentalising his life that there was very little of Mama Khan, who is a big feature of Twitter

a wonderful insightful look at the life of a g p in a modern practice .dr khan is a great storyteller and a wonderful doctor .i will look at my own gp with new eyes after reading this book .

Thank you @netgalley and @eburybooks for approving my request to read and review Dr Amir Khan's book - The Doctor Will See You Now in exchange for an honest review!

As a massive fan of GP's behind closed doors I was so excited to read this and it exceeded all my expectations. The book is 272 pages long, according to amazon, and shares Dr Khan's highs and lows of his life as an NHS GP.

The book briefly touches on so many issues in short but fast paced chapters which really left an impact with me. There is no waffle or complicated doctor language. Dr Khans empathy and understanding particularly makes this book stand out from all the others, such as The Confessions of series of books etc. He is open, honest, humourous and yet sensitive all the way through and has such respect for everyone he comes into contact with. There was no judgement and it clearly showed he is respected by colleagues and patients alike and builds great rapport. Within the book Dr Khan lets you into his fears in certain situations and by showing a vulnerable side to the profession it makes him more personable and relatable to readers. Sometimes its easy to forget doctors are normal people too as well as heroes!

This book made me laugh, cry and really care about his patients and their journeys! I sincerely hope there will be many more books to come from Dr Khan, if he can find any time to cram writing into his busy schedule!

My first 5 star read this year! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ highly recommend! The book is published in August 2020, keep an eye out for this one! I will be surprised of it's not a bestseller! X