CRITICAL ~ Dr Matt Morgan
WHAT DEMENTIA TEACHES US ABOUT LOVE ~ Nicci Gerrard

NB - I reviewed these two titles In a single piece for the Chesil Magazine in Dorset, as they arrived within a day or two of each other, and they seemed to offer the same broad message. In fact, I would recommend anyone who reads either of the two to read the other.
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If there are fates most of us dread, one must be to wake up in an intensive care unit and another must be to wake up to the realisation that dementia has caught you in its terminal grip. Not a happy thought, either of them, yet both these books are full of compassion, hope and a positive view of life and death.

Matt Morgan is a consultant in intensive care and sounds just like the sort of doctor you would like to have around in a crisis, completely on top of the 13,000 diagnoses, 6,000 drugs and 4,000 surgical procedures that make up his survival toolkit. Chapter by chapter, he explains in simple terms what happens when things go seriously wrong with the important bits of your body. He starts where modern intensive care started, with the 1952 Copenhagen polio outbreak (remember polio ?) - with no iron lung available, 1500 volunteer students operated a hand pump non-stop for six months to help a teenage patient breathe. Yet he quotes Voltaire's quip that “the art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease” and he insists that the boss in any care unit is not the doctor, the nurses - “the boss is the patient”.

He concludes that “intensive care is not always about epic saves (and) life-saving wizardry. It is also about compassion, about honesty, about making cups of tea for grieving relatives ...” which neatly introduces the second title. Nicci Gerrard (whom you might know better as novelist Nicci French) writes a moving tribute to her late father which forms the setting for a guide to “the dementia abyss into which meaning is sucked” She can be every bit as clinical as Matt Morgan (“someone develops dementia every three seconds”) but she is just as life-affirming, describing the way in which music, poetry and art can bring some relief from the darkness, or how deep sleep can consolidate fragile new memory traces into “more permanent forms of long-term storage.” And it could be Matt Morgan writing that “there is a great chasm between care and 'care' “ She is fiercely defensive of carers' rights to hospital visiting, and of the need “to focus on what the person with dementia can do, not what they can't.” Time after time, I was brought up short by a telling phrase ~ “confabulation”, people with dementia finding alibis for themselves, finding strategies to cover up memory lapses, confusion and mistakes, or a thoughtful insight ~ “it is easy to know what it is to be young, for everyone has been and still is, somewhere inside, and it is hard for the young (and even for the old, for we see the old at a distance, through the wrong end of a telescope.” Appealing for greater awareness of the “particularly long farewell to the self”, she remarks “When I was a teenager I noticed other teenagers. Pregnant, I suddenly saw all the pregnant women … Now I see countless people who are frail and scared – but that's only because I saw my father so frail and scared.”

I can't hope that I will ever be much good at coping with dementia, but at least I have no excuse not to understand a little more about it.
Nigel Melville

This is a fascinating account of life in intensive care, finding out how decisions are taken and lives saved. Dr Morgan gives information about the history of ICU - I was amazed by the story of how the life support machine came to be invented and how they managed before it was. This should be required reading for anyone thinking about a career in medicine, but equally is an amazing read for anyone.

A fairly heavy read with lots of medical jargon but an excellent one for anyone with a true interest in medicine. The book is written by an intensive care doctor and includes various experiences that he has dealt with in the role.

A memoir by a doctor about working in intensive care and the different cases he has to deal with and patients on the unit.

'Critical' is an excellent mix of the technical details involved in intensive care and the personal case studies of those it has touched. There is also a good amount of the history of medicine and some of the great men and women who have brought us to our current abilities. I love the broad views of where we were, where we are now and even where we can go from here.

Rather unusually for a medical memoir, Dr Morgan has infused his whole book with a feeling of hope, even in the face of death.. In fact, the chapter on death was my favourite. Sprinkled through the book is some very useful practical advice on saving a life and how to talk to someone who is grieving. Fascinating and educational, a great combination.

Probably more for a junior doctor or a current doctor, not for a light hearted read,, although I love medical type books (this is going to hurt by adam kay and the blood sweat and tea series) this wasn't actually for me. one day in the future I may come back to it but it is a heavy read.

I've read some great medical memoirs in the past year and was excited when I came across this one buttt was a little worried it wouldn't live up to the others, what a mistake! I loved this book! Matt Morgan is a consultant at an intensive care unit, and this book shows the kind of people he and other ICU staff deal with every day. 

It is set out a little differently than I was expecting, it is split into chapters into different parts of the human anatomy from the heart to the brain making a final stop at the soul, which is often forgotten in these kinds of books. Each of the chapters features at least one case giving an explanation as to why someone is there and demonstrating the different options of care that are available. We learn the history of the treatments and the challenges that the medical team and the patient face.

The compassion shown by the teams is amazing and they show dedication to the work they do. The book shows how the mental health of the staff can be affected and shows us some of the ways Dr Morgan copes with these challenges, managing to face some very tough situations and not let it affect them so they can provide care to the next patient.

There were so really intriguing parts of the book, it was interesting to learn about publishing bias by some journals who are more likely to publish papers by men who are from western countries but how can this be addressed?

I had no idea Roald Dahl had contributed in any way to the medical world so that was interesting to read about, as was the heartwarming section regarding what a bereaved mother and partner had managed to achieve after the passing of her child and partner.

Once again this book demonstrates the need for organ donation and reminds people to sign up and discuss it with their families, it might be a hard discussion but it is needed. In one last final note I was pleased to see how much care Dr Morgan shows to his patients once they have passed away.

What happens in a hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU)? What is the history behind the techniques and treatments used to save those who are seriously ill? This memoir covers both the scientific and the personal stories which answer these questions.

I thought this was a fascinating book, with just the right balance between personal stories and medical knowledge. Each chapter dealt with a particular area of the body which was a great way to cover such an extensive subject. From the importance of research, to the inevitable end for us all, I really feel as if I have learnt a lot and I suddenly have the urge to start treating my body a lot better than I have in the past. A definite recommend for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, Simon & Schuster UK, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

I was an Orthopaedic Nurse for 30 years, and did my fair share in the ICU/CCU and HDU departments, and I know that nursing is different from being a doctor, but it was fascinating to know that they also have the same doubts about the care they deliver ,the lack of resources and staff shortages being faced on a daily basis.
The case studies used to describe different illnesses ,prognosis and treatment is a clever device. Being based on personal experiences of caring for the patient, is so emotional, and the interesting exercises to demonstrate the point being put forward, added a new dimension to this book.
I loved the phrase' Ape brain versus critical thinking'!! In the heat of the moment,it can be hard to take a step back and think, rather than wanting to do something! However, only fools rush in!! .
Each chapter is specialised and the most useful ones will be how to perform CPR and the finality of death and the various tests that are performed in cases of brain stem injuries. Most places in the community now have AEDs and it is hoped that survival rates will improve as more people are trained to use these machines. However, it must be acknowledged, that we cannot save everyone, nor should we. There have been too many cases that have gone to court recently, whereby medical knowledge and experience have been challenged over sentimental grounds, rather than clinical facts. It is hardest sometimes to weigh up a situation and do nothing,but know you are doing the right thing for the patient. Difficult decisions are not taken lightly, but are arrived at through years of experience and consultations with colleagues.
The knowledge that ICU is not a restful experience, is not always understood by medical and nursing staff. When my husband was on CCU after a MI, he commented on the noise of machines constantly bleeping and lights flashing, the worried faces that constantly loomed into view, the incredible bright light on the ward, these sights and sounds made him feel so much worse and increased his feelings of paranoia and dread. It is good that this aspect is now being addressed.
The history of the first Intensive Care Consultant was interesting, I didn't know anything about that aspect, and the Polio epidemic was horrendous. I nursed a patient in an iron lung, after she contracted poliomyelitis and I am so thankful for the Polio drops that are given to children today,to protect them against this disease.
This book deserves to be in every hospitals library, for doctors and nurses in training. It would be a very worthy resource,both in practical and emotional fields. I loved this book, even though I retired 4 years ago, it made me realise how much I miss my job. A well deserved 5 star read.
I will leave this review on Goodreads.

Dr Matt Morgan’s book ‘Critical’ is an outline of the workings of The Intensive Care Unit. This ICU Consultant explains that his research papers are read by a small number of people, and his use of the novel form is in the hope of reaching a wider audience, including his past and future patients.
Has this worked, I wonder? It did for me, but in the context of a close friend who has just completed a three month stay in ICU, with me perched alongside a lot of the time. I had a reason for reading it- or possibly not reading it (it took a while to decide).
Dr Morgan proceeds, much along the lines of a research paper, with an introduction, the history of the development of life support systems, followed by chapters on major organs - how they work and how they can malfunction- culminating in a chapter on the soul.
But this logical structure is reassuring and provides shelter against often unsettling but always fascinating reading. This is not an entertaining book, but it is interesting, informative and well-written.
I’m not sure if this book would have prepared me for my ICU experience, had I happened to read it beforehand, but at least I am now better qualified to associate with the ICU and its function as described by Dr Morgan.
I personally believe that the NHS is well and truly broken in the UK and that lack of resources leaves us in the lap of the Gods. But Dr Morgan signs off by saying his job involves working hard, asking questions and being kind. I would go further. Critical care teams make the most unlikely outcomes possible. We all need to be aware of this.
With thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster UK Fiction

Dr. Matt Morgan, an experienced consultant in intensive care, provides insight into his work in the IUC, writing about his experiences in critical illness in an anatomical tour around the body. Drawing upon deeply personal accounts of cases and patients he cared for as well as exploring the history of the development of different IUC treatments, he provides a compelling account of what it means to be, and care for, the critically ill and on the brink of death.

Medical memoirs seem to be very on trend right now and it's no real surprise why. Doctors and the intricacies of hospital life have long been a popular setting for hit TV dramas, providing a modern battleground and an ideal setting to explore the human condition. In 2019, we have seen several new releases hit bestseller lists in the last few years, such as This is Going to Hurt and Your Life in My Hands. The medical profession has long fascinated the public, and I am sure Critical will prove no exception.

The pitch of Critical is fantastic; Dr. Morgan has successfully thought of a different perspective, carving into this novel a unique and innovative selling point in a crowded field of recent medical memoirs. An exploration of critical care is incredibly interesting because such a specialty deals with pretty much every area of the body, looking at the sickest patients with the most dangerous (and often rarest) conditions. Dr. Morgan is great at writing in this genre as he is able to deliver quite complex and specialist conditions, science and theories in an accessible way; he is very gifted at explaining medical terminology to the layperson in a concise manner. I found his writing incredibly immersive, particularly as he lends a very personable voice to the subject. He does not shy away from showing emotion and provides a deeply personal account to an occupation in healthcare. Not only did I truly learn a lot from reading this, I also became quite attached to the stories of many of the patients. I thoroughly recommend picking this one up.

A very insightful and interesting read. I chose to read this book because I wanted to hear from a doctors point of view of the ins and out of working in intensive care. My father was in ICU twice and both were very worrisome times. As a patient he didn’t see much around him but I was very interested in the working of the hospital and care he was given. If you want to know more about critical care and the NHS then this is definitely a good read. It is not a story it’s a memoir so there will be doctor jargon at times and if your looking for a lovely fluffy read then this may be to much.

Critical is one of those memoirs that will stay with me for a long time. I used to shy away from reading about death – not anymore. Thank goodness because I would have missed this powerful reflection on working in an Intensive Care Unit. I often wondered how those in the medical profession squared saving the lives of so-called ‘undesirables’ or those who are less than perfect in the eyes of society. Dr Morgan’s philosophy is extremely moving. I had to stop and really think about his approach. He’s right of course (no spoilers!).

Critical is one of those books you’ll find yourself reading out passages to loved ones around you. Everything from what is likely to kill you to how to talk to someone who has lost someone.

I rarely return to a book, but I will absolutely pick up this one again. Critical is a well-written and profoundly moving addition to the medical memoir genre.

Absolutely loved reading this...it brings my job into perspective.

Nursing is so different and difficult at times and seeing it through the eyes of someone else is breathtaking.

Most people take nurses and doctors for granted and I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to understand the difficult challenges and decisions we have to make.

I found this book so interesting. It’s not my normal style of book as it’s more of an autobiography, but I still enjoyed it. I was amazed at the amount of knowledge in this book and it really made me think about life choices that could affect my health. It also made me think about changing my opinion on being an organ donor.
It’s certainly worth a read.

I’ve always been fascinated by medicine, and this is an excellent book written by an intensive care consultant, In it, he discusses different patients, and explores the science, technology and history behind today’s options (or lack thereof). He also talks about the importance of bystander CPR, organ donation, and how a ‘good’ death can make all the difference.

This book was a real insight into critical care medicine. It goes through all the different scenarios in regards to the care of the patient, with examples of the types of injuries/diseases that cause the patient to need the help of the critical care staff, I found the book incredibly interesting, the work these people do Day in, day out amazes me. Highly recommended.

I found this really engrossing. It's fairly technical and lots of medical terms but it also let's the human side show through. Incredibly interesting.

This was an amazing book, such a fascinating insight into the world of Intensive Care and the work of an Intensivist.

I work for the NHS as a Nurse but have never stepped into an Intensive Care Unit professionally but after reading this, I wish that I had.

I have visited relatives and the care exhibited was second to none. It was clear from Dr Morgan’s testimony that the culture within these units is one based on respect for each individual that is cared for. His passion was clear to see, with each tale told his care came across in each and every word.

The book is divided into sections based on physiological systems in the body and each chapter included the case study of a real patient that Dr Morgan had cared for. While describing the condition that brought them into intensive care and how this was treated Dr Morgan also tells the reader about the real person behind the machines that are keeping them alive. Each chapter contains fascinating stories as to the history of a particular condition or treatment.

I sincerely hope that if I or any of my relatives need to stay in Intensive Care that I have a Dr and a team around me that are just as considerate and compassionate.

In short, this book has had me completely engrossed during the short time it's taken to read it and I shall surely miss it now it's all read. Think I'll just read it all over again.

As someone who loves all things medical, seeing this book on Netgalley was a gift. Oooh that looks good I thought and was excited when my request for an ARC was granted.

Even so, as it moved up my to-be-read list, I did keep eyeing it with some trepidation, hoping it wouldn’t be too dry or too technical. I imagined the author to be a man in his late 50’s to early 60’s and perhaps an old school type consultant.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. This was a fascinating book and Dr Matt Morgan couldn’t be further away from the stereotype I imagined. He has written the book in such a compelling way that it honestly does become quite difficult to put the book down, at least until you reach the end of a section. One reviewer mentioned that at times the author tends to meander through stories. I know what he means but that isn’t a negative point, for me this is what keeps the book so interesting. It really is like listening to someone chatting to you about their job which also happens to be their passion.

Through the book you find out about the various vital organs of the body and what goes wrong. We start out by being introduced to the immune system, then there’s the heart, the lungs, blood, the brain and at the end – the soul. No that’s not an organ but nevertheless, the soul needs looking after too.

In each section there is a past case that will help to explain what has gone wrong and what the whole critical care team do to try to put right what has gone wrong. The critical care consultant is a team leader but it takes a whole team made up of many different specialities to bring forth a solution and Dr Morgan is always at pains to emphasise this point. As he tells you what has happened to the patient and explains some of the challenges in treating them, he will go back and take you through some of the history of how treatments and procedures have been discovered and how they’ve progressed to where we are now. The history alone is really interesting. Roald Dahl features in some of it and has made his own contribution to medical science.

Throughout the book the stories of the patients are always told with great compassion. Ethical considerations are often discussed when describing how decisions were made in treatments and procedures. All in all its a very rounded look at how critical care works and the part it plays within medicine and surgery.

An absolutely brilliant book which I’d not hesitate to recommend. Read this, and if you ever find yourself or a loved one in the dire situation of needing critical care, you’ll be confident in the knowledge that they will do everything within their power to bring about the best possible outcome.

Apparently there will be another book to follow, I’m counting down the weeks to reading it.