Emergency Admissions

Shocking, funny and unflinchingly honest, Emergency Admissions gives us a fascinating glimpse into the extraordinary world of ambulance driving from the man behind the wheel.

Kit Wharton has been an ambulance driver for a dozen years. This book is his report from the frontline of that work: 999 calls that hurtle him to critical moments in other peoples' lives. Nothing in this job is normal; every job is different. From the bizarre to the terrifying and tragic, Wharton takes his audience through his strange work.

There is an S&M party gone horribly wrong and bodily discharges sure to make you wretch. There is a man who calls 999 saying he has picked a spot - you can imagine Kit's irritation. When he arrives, the patient is lying in a pool of his own blood. On the other hand, there are colossal time wasters. There are extraordinarily sad stories, heartwarming, touching instances of human bravery and connection.

Along the way Kit reveals more about his own unconventional upbringing, a childhood pickled in alcohol abuse and bohemian family setups. As he says, he was well prepared for the ambulance service....