College of Medicine Chairman Dr Michael Dixon, a longstanding GP in the village of Cullompton, Devon, has written a new book – perfectly placed for the present-buying season – about his extraordinary life working in General Practice in a rural community – which also touches upon how the global pandemic could change the way young GPs work.

Time to Heal; Tales of a Country Doctor documents the story of Dr Dixon’s myriad of colourful experiences in healthcare – including being served a ‘medicinal brandy’ before a shift as a junior doctor in the 1970s, and a home birth in the dead of night in a house with no electricity while wearing his pyjamas.

Described by the publisher as shocking, sad and funny, Dr Dixon’s book doesn’t hold back on what it’s like to be a doctor who feels poorly served by the conventional medicine of his time and wants to find new ways to relieve the suffering of his patients.

Far from being a real-life take on ITV comedy series Doc Martin, this tale has a twist.

The College of Medicine Chair tackles the future of medicine, including how 21st century General Practice and its patients have been betrayed by top-heavy regulation, performance management and a blame culture.

Young doctors no longer want to enter General Practice and the author explores why and how pandemics might provide the answers…

College of Medicine patron HRH The Prince of Wales has written the foreword for the book.

Time to Heal: Tales of a Country Doctor is published by Unicorn, click here to order a copy