Jim Down
@JimDown8
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icu consultant, author of Life Support and Life in the Balance
Joined April 2021
First paperback copies of LITB arrived today - thank you @jbirkett and the designers at @VikingBooksUK I love it. Out on Feb 28th available to order now. Please spread the word
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@NursingNotesUK @PeterStefanovi2 @RMTunion @nurses_united @GMB_union @unitetheunion @unisontheunion I’d rather recruit a health secretary from overseas than continue with the one we’ve got.
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@Vicster82 @campbellclaret Before measles vaccine, measles outbreaks killed approx 2.6 million people per yr. the vaccine is infinitely safer than that for all children not just the vulnerable.
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Business is haunted by Brexit – and this safety mark fiasco is its latest nightmare Brilliant and utterly depressing
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Night Shift tonight in support of our fantastic junior doctors. They are the future and we need to pay them properly and look after them if we want them to stay in the NHS.
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@campbellclaret Get your kids vaccinated now - please for the sake of the poor kids who can’t be vaccinated. #lookafterthevulnerable . We don’t see polio or smallpox these days because vaccines work.
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First hard copy of my new book arrived today. Out on feb 23rd. Please Retweet and pre order. Sales in the balance.
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Thank you @campbellclaret for the kind words about Life in the Balance on @RestIsPolitics it’s pushed me to the top of the ‘medical administration and policy’ charts which I think we can all agree is the big one. Getting twitchy @RoryStewartUK ?
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@campbellclaret And 100 million a yr off Scottish salmon industry after Brexit on farming today this morning.
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My new book ‘Life in the Balance a doctor’s stories of intensive care’ is out today. Available at all good bookshops. #compelling - the Daily Telegraph. Extract in last week’s Saturday Times magazine. Buy your copy now and or retweet - thank you.
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My wife Tish has spent the last 2 days working with this gorgeous little fella ‘Wol’ and will be casting him in bronze. Visit to see her work or nip to the decorative art fair Battersea this weekend.
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Practitioner health were vital support to me when I had a mental health crisis and to numerous others. Please please reconsider @VictoriaAtkins.
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@toadmeister Can’t see any problem with the CPS position on the examples they use. Just because it’s in the Bible doesn’t mean it’s appropriate. Slavery and homophobia are not acceptable.
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Out tomorrow- well today probably by now. All RTs vv much appreciated. 🙏🙏
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Congratulations to @doctor_oxford @jed_mercurio @JoFroggatt and all involved with making Breathtaking for ITV - saw first Ep last night. It’s a tough watch but utterly authentic and important, and it’s brilliantly written, directed and acted.
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Go and see my brilliant wife’s beautiful sculptures at the decorative art fair all this week. Free entrance pass to follow. Or commission a bronze of your favourite pet!
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Just finished ‘But what can I do’ by @campbellclaret and strongly recommend it. Inspiring, honest, and insightful. Even got my 13 yr olds to read the end!.
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I’ve started to think we do need a remain only bbcqt for balance and sanity. Guessing fewer will have changed their minds.
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We lost my wonderful mother 2 years ago today. Miss you everyday mum. Let’s beat this hideous disease Alzheimer’s and in the meantime give those affected the care and dignity they need
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Just in case any of you forgot to get your copy of this… it’s still available. 1 in 5 of you will need ICU at some point. Find out what it’s really all about. Emotional but also uplifting.
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My new book Life in the Balance is now available to pre order. I’d be v grateful if you could retweet. Thank your
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Final push of my new (ish) book before the summer. Perfect beach read. Please spread the word far and wide if you liked it - 1/5 of you will need ICU at some point so find out what it’s really like - not all bad - promise! Inspirational stories about amazing people
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Life Support out in paperback today. Please have a look/ buy / spread the word. Thanks so much x
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If you are in the elite group of people who’ve read my book Life in the Balance and enjoyed it please review on Amazon etc. Really helps. Thanks to all those who have already. Tough selling books if you haven’t got a podcast! If you hated it shhh.
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@emmakennytv What is your reference for ‘the science is changing’ we’ve known a long time that the vaccines carry very small risks but the benefits hugely outweigh them. Could you point me towards your peer reviewed evidence to the contrary.
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@Vicster82 @campbellclaret I’m answering it by making the point that the risk of not vaccinating is far far higher than vaccinating. What if your child gets pneumonia or deafness or encephalitis from measles? That’s what I don’t want for anyone.
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My accommodation for @hayfestival with sunshine and 4 chickens. Very happy man. Now just need to ensure the lecture’s up to scratch
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I think for the health sec who as an MP has taken a 0.6% real terms pay cut (and gets expenses) to say that junior docs asking for pay restoration of a 25.6% pay cut is unreasonable is unreasonable.
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Thank you @TEDxManchester it was a huge honour to speak today - terrifying but I loved it in the end and was inspired by all the wonderful talks. 👏👏 @Otto_English among many others. Thanks also to Blackwells for the book signing.
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Very chuffed when I popped into my local bookshop to see Life in the Balance next to the brilliant and lovely @elizabday. Word is if you’re buying one you really need the other…
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@RestIsPolitics @RoryStewartUK @campbellclaret Q for Rory. 'Rory seems convinced that investment is not the problem with the NHS and that reform offers the solution, but in the new labour years we were ranked 1st by the commonwealth fund (ahead of Europeans, America, Aus etc 2007) and since then our cumulative underspend1/2.
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@TiceRichard Interesting you use the word selfish. I thought she was doing it for the future of humankind.
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Thank you @hayfestival for another fantastic yr - educated and entertained. huge honour to deliver the Aneurin Bevan lecture. So glad Lucy in row 3 was fine!! Thank you @campbellclaret and @doctor_oxford for your plugs, and 🙏the weather gods.
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@TimesRadio @Chloetilley Thanks for having me on this morning. Home from my shift as a junior doctor. Sorry to see no movement from government.
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English junior doctors won’t have to emigrate to Australia and New Zealand anymore they can just pop up the M6.
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Life Support: Diary of an ICU Doctor on the Frontline of the Covid Crisis: Down, Dr Jim: 9780241506325: Books. although to break my own rule once. If you want to know what was going on in ICU through partygate look no further…
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@doctor_oxford Tragic. It’s not the model it’s the 322billion spending deficit since 2010 (even including covid uplift) In 2007 we were ranked 1 in the world by the commonwealth fund.
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200 million on totally unnecessary voter ID/?suppression god knows how much on morally bankrupt Rwanda policy inflation related pay rise for MPs. 26% pay cut for junior doctors. #timeforachange.
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@mattletiss7 I’m afraid this is ill informed. Please read Life Support- diary of an icu doctor on the front line of the covid crisis. This was not flu. This was horrific. @VikingBooks.
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Thank you to the wonderful @RestIsPolitics for discussing my new book Life in the Balance, Stories of intensive care. ‘A remarkably honest memoir with stories ranging from fascinating to the terrifying’- Adam Kay @campbellclaret @RoryStewartUK 🙏🙏.
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Thank you @TimesRadio @StigAbell @AasmahMir for having me on this morning to support our brilliant nurses. If you want to know why, read my book Life in the Balance, A doctor’s stories of Intensive Care. We need to pay our nurses (and junior doctors) properly or we’ll lose them.
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Oh my god I’ve just heard someone lost their bank account but was offered one in another. Why isn’t this front page news? For weeks?.
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Please vote tactically in Bedfordshire and Uxbridge. The Tories must go!.
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Extraordinary evening launching new charity Hospice Ukraine set up by @doctor_oxford and @DrHenryMarsh chaired by @maitlis and @jonsopel 👏👏👏👏
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Why are the dept of health never available to go on bbc news programmes to discuss jd strikes? Almost as if they haven’t got a leg to stand on?.
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Thanks @rickedwards1 and @bbc5live @rachelburden for a great morning about the NHS. Reminded us all why we must fight for it.
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Jim Down very excited to be doing this. (And a little bit terrified). Please come if you can or rt.
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Luke Johnson on @BBCr4today the data do not tell the whole story of how much pressure the NHS was under during the pandemic. Read my book ‘Life Support.’ It was truly appalling and could have got much worse. There were no easy solutions.
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Jim Down very excited to be doing this on the 29th. It will be far less vexed and more fun than the photo - I promise. (Although a bit emotional possibly) Do come if you can and spread the word @hayfestival #LifeintheBalance.
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I’m on the new statesman podcast this morning. please RT and pre order the book!.
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@Haggis_UK So his argument is that because they’ve been persecuted it is fine for us to put them in terrible conditions. Wow.
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My 84 year old Dad is doing the Jurrasic Coast 100Km ultra marathon (walking) on May 18th to raise money for his local NHS Hospital - someone got to fund it I guess. Madness, but here's the link in case you feel like donating.
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Thank you @TherealNihal @bbc5live for having me. My wife was really impressed - by you more than me. You have a new super fan.
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So we take fewer asylum seekers than comparable countries, the number of displaced people is 25 million and rising and our policy to to ensure we take even fewer, even if it means breaking international law. What am I missing?.
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@rmoonesinghe @LeeVarney2000 @the_mdu @gmcuk @NHSEngland @AoAA_uk @HealthRegLawyer @SedateUk Hang on a minute… 😤🤗.
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Heading to speak, learn and hopefully wild swim at SASWR this thurs fri. Great looking Programme - come if you can… (signed books available too of course)
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Just finished this in about 3 sittings and feel the beginnings of a major book hangover- thank you @DavidNWriter it was an utter joy! Now off to persuade Tish to join me on the coast to coast ….
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2/2 if I’ve missed something tell me but I think she was distinguishing them from other non training doctors. And haven’t people complained about the term junior? Feels like a distraction from the real issues.
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@RestIsPolitics @campbellclaret @RoryStewartUK How do we persuade the uk public that to avert the climate crisis we need to build now rather than conserve. We have to think about our environment differently, build wind and solar farms and rethink how we use the land. Discuss!.
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Very much looking forward to coming to Wells literary festival to talk about ITU conundrums and dilemmas with the odd Russian spy thrown in come along if you’re in the area.
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Extraordinary to hear @SstoneGrandPrix organiser talk about @JustStop_Oil on newscast and not even consider that he might be the ‘baddies’ to quote wonderful sketch @RealDMitchell @RobertWebb_.
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Not just medical administration and policy, Life in the Balance now also number 1 in hospital administration and management 🙏@campbellclaret .
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Our Net zero minister has left COP before an agreement has been reached??? How can that possibly be OK? What is the point of them?.
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Thank you @Chloetilley @CalumAM and @TimesRadio for having me on this morning to talk about consultant strikes. V good to talk to you as always.
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Strongly recommend NYE @NationalTheatre moving fascinating and a timely reminder of why the NHS is so precious. The model is not the problem.
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<b>'A remarkably honest memoir of a life spent pulling people. via @PenguinUKBooks.As requested here is the link to buy your vital copy, you won’t regret it I promise/hope.
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Thank you @StigAbell and @TimesRadio for inviting me on to talk about junior doctor’s strikes. Enjoyed the discussion at this difficult time. Off to be the ITU sho now. 😳.
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Great opportunity to be the first (or then 2nd 3rd …. 4000th) to review my new book ‘Life in the Balance’ on Amazon (it really helps) described as ‘a remarkably honest memoir with stories ranging from the fascinating to the terrifying’ Adam Kay, author of This is going to hurt.
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Just agreed with Rishi Sunak on his smoking proposal. Need a lie down to recover from the surprise.
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I fully support our striking doctors and can’t wait to see the back of this government but I’m confused about the huge backlash about the term doctors in training. Is it because she said as I prefer to call them? Isn’t doctors in training the correct term? 1/2.
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@dr_mattmorgan @doctor_oxford @jed_mercurio @JoFroggatt Monday Tuesday Wednesday - pour yourself a stiff drink!.
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Strong recommend for Groundhog Day at the old vic. Engrossing, theatrical beautifully designed very funny, surprisingly moving and stunning performances @timminchin @oldvictheatre @meganrouse_ 👏👏👏👏.
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Just finished One Day 👏👏👏 @DavidNWriter et al. Beautifully written acted and directed. Feel I’ve relived my twenties and thirties again (again) - and a great trip through twenty years of jeans!.
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There are an awful lot of emergency podcasts in my feed. Irresistible I guess but Now let’s ignore the disgraced ex MP and PM (still incredible) and starve him of the oxygen of publicity he so craves. Boris who?.
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