Book Reviews

J R Army Med Corps 2002; 148: 309-311 J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-148-03-20 on 1 September 2002. Downloaded from BOOK REVIEWS Sexual Health Matters in Primary Care. forward to follow in outline. The text is Gill Wakley & Ruth Chambers. Radcliffe endorsed with excellent diagrams, tables and 2001. £19.95 PB. Pp vi-198. ISBN No. 1- figures. 85775-414-X. Unfortunately the book then goes into detail about how to apply evidence-based Improving Sexual Health is a ‘Hot Topic’ on medicine with a more detailed use of stat- the agenda of both the Surgeon General and istics. I found myself lost and often found it the Government. This is a subject that our difficult to remember how far I had read. I practice and I are particularly interested in. suspect that the problem may well be in the In fact, I had already bought the book before subject rather than the book! The chapters I was asked to review it, as it looked like a are written by academic general practitioners useful resource, the author having already and this may make them a little removed written a large number of excellent primary from the practising clinician. I tried hard to care books. I have not been disappointed. follow it, but struggled. This very readable book looks at best This book would be good to borrow and is practice in sexual health. It is crammed full useful for understanding the terminology in of information, ideas, assessment tools and evidence based medicine. It would be part- lists of up to date resources, guidelines and icularly useful if you have to prepare a talk on useful websites. It includes chapters on the subject or have a GP Registrar wanting taking a sexual history and confidentiality, additional material. However, it is not a book provision of contraceptive services, chlamy- on “Evidence-based Medicine made dia and managing sexual dysfunction in simple”. I recommend it for “somebody primary care. Each chapter contains a review else’s” library, to which you have access. of the subject with reflection exercises and a Lt Col RG Simpson RAMC list of references. The book is particularly SO1 Primary Care written to be a resource for drawing up a AMD personal or practice development plan in the http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/ clinical management of sexual health and, to H Jones VC: The life and death of an assist this, gives easy to use templates and unusual hero. John Wilsey. Hutchinson examples. I also feel that many aspects of the 2002. £18.99. Pp xi-335. Illust. ISBN No. 0- book would be useful to GP registrars, 09-17935-6. particularly those preparing for MRCGP. If this book is anything to go by the other The reason I have written this book review books in the series would be well worth for the Journal of the Royal Army Medical reading. Of the other titles available, ‘Mental Corps is because it portrays, in the most Health Matters in Primary Care’ and accurate detail, an analysis of the regimental ‘Musculoskeletal Matters in Primary Care’ structure of the British Army.The hero, “H” could be of particular interest to military Jones, himself stirs all sorts of emotions for on September 30, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. practices. those who served during this period of quite Dr CA Bodley Scott wrongly perceived military inactivity. Jones, BM FRCGP DRCGP MFFP like many other cold war soldiers had to Civilian Medical Practitioner thrive when and where active service opportunities arose. He was decorated MBE Evidence-based Practice in Primary following a tour in Northern Ireland as a Care. 2nd Edition. Edited by Chris Silagy Brigade Major and, having supported and Andrew Haines. BMJ Books 2001. magnificently as a staff officer at HQLF at £25.00. PB. Pp vii–206. ISBN 0-7279-1568- Wilton, the Commonwealth Monitoring 1. Force in Zimbabwe, was advanced to OBE. Outstanding officers, (he was one several This BMJ book quickly endorses the need times), had to temper their ambition and for evidence based medicine in General natural verve and enthusiasm, with a degree Practice and Primary Care. Its introductory of tolerance and lip-biting, because of the chapters are easy to follow with good possible damning Annual Confidential definitions (you can quickly pick up the Grade of “E” for “Tact and Cooperation”. jargon!). I particularly liked the “five step “H” owned a yacht, the “Romanel”. The process for using evidence based approach in verve he demonstrated in sailing and motor General Practice”. Each step is straight- racing was also apparent in a variety of 310 J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-148-03-20 on 1 September 2002. Downloaded from postings in which he was able to court life and would appear to have done so in the adulation from those serving him, his peers most dramatic fashion on the 28th May and and his superiors, while seriously antag- his extraordinary actions, for a whole string onising small numbers from all these same of cogent reasons, fully warranted a post- three groups. humous VC. The fact that the book is published now on Why should this book, written extremely the twentieth anniversary of his death is not well by General Sir John Wilsey, Commander due to commercial expediency. Wilsey has in Chief, United Kingdom Land Forces, put in a very great deal of research since he later, Land Command, 1993-1996, now retired from the Army in 1996, in association Chairman of the Western Provident Assoc- with a very busy job, and I find it hard to iation, appeal to members if the Army imagine that publication could have been Medical Services? achieved any quicker. He was a contemp- These tales of derring-do are worth orary of “H” in the Devon and Dorsets, but considering by all members of the AMS. It is “H” was 15 months his junior in the same masterly as a textbook of how the Army regiment.Wilsey was one of the three officers works, its confidential reporting system and from that regiment who attended the Staff its importance, the contacts made at Sand- College in 1973. The other two were “H” hurst and later Camberley, where only a few and Paddy King-Fretts, who later comm- AMS officers go and the regimental system anded a squadron of SAS in Dhofar and was with all its intrigues and strengths. It should chosen to command the Devon and Dorsets be compulsory reading for all young doctors, following Wilsey. During the Falklands War, prior to PGMO courses and all aspiring Wilsey was still commanding. Medical Support Officers, whether they be at Having not achieved designate command Sandhurst, as officers in other regiments or of his own regiment, Jones inherited 2 Para, corps or soldiers in the Army Medical just back from a two year tour in Northern Services. In my view, it beats Anthony Ireland, at Ballykilner, on the 3rd April 1981. Beevor’s, acclaimed book, “Inside the British As an incomer he had a difficult task ahead. Army”. He had to retrain the regiment into a war- Having been John Wilsey’s last substantive fighting, rather than peacekeeping role. He two-star Commander Medical, I commend it did so and some toes were trodden on in the to you. process.The regiment would never have gone RP Craig to the Falklands had it not been for his Major General (Rtd) burning ambition and the friends he had made in his previous job at Wilton. He The Medics Guide to Work and Electives managed to get 2 Para into 3 Commando Around the World. Mark Wilson. Arnold Brigade, resulting in the 3rd Battalion, the Publishers. £14.99. PB. Pp864. ISBN No. 0- http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/ Royal Anglian Regiment being selected to 340-76098-2. replace 2 Para in a posting to Belize. Wilsey describes the feelings, emotions and Part medical traveller’s almanac, part idiot’s recollections of those who served at Darwin/ guide to stepping-out abroad, the title of this Goose Green in a manner which is totally rough-guide-to-a-medics-lonely-planet style plausible and lacking in partisanship. He book is self-explanatory. It presents a mixture published a photographic diagram, (p244), of well-researched facts, patronising tips and of “H”s dash up the re-entrant, which unintentional humour. purports to show his target trench and his Divided into three sections, the first of Argentinian killer, well to his right. I have these, ‘Getting Ready’, has three chapters. some doubts over this diagram. Surgeon The first of these, ‘Planning Your Elective’, on September 30, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. Commander Rick Jolly is certain that “H” for a supposedly educated readership, is was killed by a single bullet, which caused an monstrously worrying. Much of the blurb is 8 mm entry wound behind his right clavicle irrelevant, however, like medical school in the supraclavicular fossa and a much lectures, there are occasional gems. Whilst larger exit wound of his left lower abdomen, providing useful advice on the subject of the direction of the wound track being funding and locating other helpful sources of possibly explained by a ricochet off the information, the author demonstrates an vertebral column. Such an entry and exit uncanny knack for stating the very obvious, wound could not have been produced by a “On the subject of danger, try to avoid war shot from a trench facing his back. It could, zones”.This also pervades chapter two, ‘Work- however, have been fired from the trench that ing Overseas’ where you are told not to forget “H” was attacking if he had ducked when to pack your stethoscope.

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