It was quite fascinating to learn about the role of anesthesiologist and how they are really specialists in the area of breathing, making them vital during COVID. Because it pushes away the darkest of thoughts, allows those facing what men and women like Ed Patrick did, to maintain some level of sanity. 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. Whenever I needed to do some 'life stuff' I'd always tell myself I'd put the book down as soon as I'd finished that particular snippet but then I'd start the next one and tell myself that was definitely the last and so on and so on until I was having to drag myself away.

Nevertheless, I have deep, deep appreciation for all health care workers during the pandemic; he does give some sense of how frustrating it has been, but if you know or follow any hcws, this won't be new to you, though.They faced an emotional and physical threat and did so with little thought other than treating those most in need. Hilariously funny, moving and truly insightful, it follows Ed's journey from bewildered medical student in Aberdeen to unflinching anaesthetist on the NHS frontline. The first part is very light-hearted, and to be honest, he doesn't always inspire confidence as he recounts his experiences.

I have written my first book 'Catch Your Breath' a funny and honest story about becoming an anaesthetist, and then also being at the forefront of a little-known, worldwide pandemic.The story takes us through Ed's training which had some side splittingly funny anecdotes, his rotations as a junior doctor though to Covid hitting. Coffee and Covid podcast - where I catch up with NHS friends across the UK about life on during the pandemic lockdown (edited by my girlfriend, please say it sounds good). Being prepared and ready for the worst case scenario is a reoccurring theme throughout the book, because things don't always go smoothly, keeping a cool head in a stressful scenario!

Reading this completely humanises medical professionals and has helped me to feel reassured that I would be safe in the hands of Ed or any of his colleagues. 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. The book raises the important issue of mental health support for medical staff and the general public after dealing with the pandemic. A quietly funny and self-deprecating read covering some of the many stories from a newly qualified doctor, beginning in his medical student days through to the more recent Covid-19 era. This book follows Ed from medical school, through rotations as a junior doctor to training as an anaesthetist.

As a memoir, Catch your Breath has an impressive number of dialogues which are so vivid and smart and hilarious that I´ve caught myself just laughing on my own more than once. Catch your Breath is a gut punch of a memoir by a doctor – and comedian – whose job is to keep people alive after putting them to sleep.