How They Broke Baxter

A consultant surgeon tells the story of his appointment, his successful years in his hospital, and then the coming of changes which led at last to his sad resignation. The managers had arrived, amalgamations ordered, wards were closed, discord amongst colleagues raged, and personal antagonisms worsened as their worlds collapsed. The novel was written in the 1990s and you may well recognise it! ‘’ Further to the salutogenic benefits of alcohol, retired physician Dr John Blair recalls that when working at Perth Royal Infirmary in the 1950s it was customary to add 10ml of alcohol to an intravenous infusion “to make the patient feel more relaxed”. Those recovering from an operation were entitled, on request, to a nightcap of a double whisky. Regrettably neither practice still prevails. Dr Blair has recently published this entertaining novel, How They Broke Baxter, a tragic tale of how the managerial invasion of the health service made life intolerable for a busy and successful surgeon. It reflects, no doubt, the experience of many’’ James LeFanu, The Daily Telegraph, 21 November 2013