I Can See Clearly Now the Rain is Gone [Paperback]

George Korankye writes a good story - and he knows what he is talking about. As a radiographer himself, he is well used to the emergencies, the dramas and sometimes the tragedies that occur in every hospital, including the X-ray department. He has a keen ear for the speech of Glasgow people, and their essential wit and compassion humanity come shining through. His fictional Bonnyholly Hospital is one that will fit into many people's experience of what happens to them at the end of an ambulance ride, and he has clearly coped with some moments of great trauma.

In this book, Korankye looks at a notional disaster scenario such as Dunblane or Lockerbie. Though he stresses in the Foreword that no specific reference is meant to either of these, we get to see the mechanisms at work that will bring kindly paramedics to the scene of some horrific accident. We follow the ambulance and its staff and patients back to the hospital. There, almost invariably, the radiographer is needed to reveal what has happened to the bones and tissue that have been damaged - and he or she is always going to be one of the first to talk to frightened parents or grieving people who have to be reassured or given bad news.

Korankye's book is by no means a technical tome, however. It has professionalism and expertise, but he fills his story with conversation and laughter, coupled with the inevitable private griefs. The radiographers he is talking about give comfort and hope to people facing up to sometimes terrible injuries or receiving news of a death, but they are never indifferent. This book is written with humanity, humour and deep insight. The perfect gift for a slightly more thoughtful Christmas -- or for anyone who's ever had an X-ray. -- Arran Voice by Alison Prince 29 October 2009

I have finished reading the book which I found an absolute delight although at times I had to think hard about the Scottish dialogue. It was compelling reading which had me in tears and clearing my throat on several occasions but also giggling at times. Well done you...I hope that this publication will succeed and fulfil your and our professions' quest. I have already mentioned it to some of our students and I will definitely be encouraging staff to put it on their reading lists....Well done again and many thanks for forwarding me a review copy. I have subsequently passed it on to another member of our team....When's the sequel -- Lynn Cuthbertson Senior Lecturer Programme Lead BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Imaging Science Glasgow Caledonian University

"...We read the struggles of the paramedic teams, and the lives of those families (fictional) involved on that fatal day.
The school, before and after the event, with worried parents waiting at the doors of the school gates, wondering if their children were safe and searching for answers. This is a very intensive read, telling the story of all those involved in a traumatic event, from the children, to parents, paramedic's and hospital staff. This book gives the insight on how a hospital, and their staff, cope with such a tragic event..." Natalie Jones NWM Group
--denbighshirefreepress.co.uk

"...I have... finished reading (the book). Very well done. It is a great story and certainly highlights radiography brilliantly...." --Richard Evans, Chief Executive, The Society and College of Radiographers:

"....You have done a lot to educate the public on the role of radiographers without glorifying the job.... I'm going to be discussing having the book recommended for all healthcare students in the university through the Inter-professional Education modules that we have..." --Anne Marie Conway, Head of Radiography, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh:

George Korankye's second book - I can see clearly now the rain is gone - is quite possibly the first novel to be dedicated to radiographers. His aim is to educate the public about the radiography profession through 'faction'. ..The story's protagonist is Mark - a superintendent radiographer who must lead his imaging experts though a major trauma incident,... The setting is the fictitious town of Bonnyholly, Scotland. The story reveals how the victims' parents, Mark's radiography team and a whole host of other healthcare professionals deal with their anguish, guilt, anger and frustration after a tragic shooting at Bonnyholly School. ....

When I first opened my copy of the book, two questions came to mind: How will George tell this harrowing tale in a way that is sympathetic and respectful? How will he portray radiographers and the healthcare profession? The answer to both questions is very well. George obviously has a talent for story-telling and isn't afraid to explore the depths of the human psyche. He also cares deeply for his characters, no doubt pulling from his own personal experiences as a radiographer, and those of his friends and colleagues.

I often found myself sharing George's sympathy and admiration for his cast. ......if George's main objective is to throw light on the diverse work of UK imaging professionals in an accessible way, then he absolutely delivers. And for that, George is to be applauded. ....Buy it for yourself and anyone who wonders what it is you do for a living. -- Emma Abbott Editor Synergy UK February 2010 (Radiographer's Magazine)

A gripping sympathetic "faction" novel based on the real life incident at Dunblane will answer the question posed by an Edinburgh Evening News Reader: "What Does a Person Who Takes Pictures of Bones Know About Trauma?" Factual events from a radiographer's point of view are seamlessly blended and revolve around the fictional Bonnyholly Hospital, which serves a picturesque small town in Scotland. When a major incident occurs as in Lockerbie, Dunblane, in Scotland, 9/11 in the US, the atrocities in London or the bombings in Mumbai, Spain or any country worldwide, radiographers will be involved in the medical chain. These individuals are therefore not immune to the emotional and psychological scars their patients undergo. The story tells how the medical team experience pain, anger, guilt and frustration as they deal with a situation none of them had ever dreamed they would see. Courage, sacrifice, sympathy and sheer professionalism help to get everyone through the darkness of that day and the following weeks and months. Those few minutes before the arrival of the ambulances, with lights flashing and sirens shrieking, are like an eternity to the medical staff. Waiting in eerie silence for its young patients are the hospital's radiographers, cleaners, porters, doctors and nurses. They know little of the tragedy they are about to deal with. In this group is Mark, the jovial Superintendent Radiographer known for joking with patients and cheering them up, who has been through a similarly traumatic event in the past and knows this is no time for any light-hearted banter. He has in his charge ten radiographers. The tragedy centres around young children, caught up in a situation so terrible that it couldn't be contemplated, and everyone involved is stretched to the limit of their skills and their emotions. For them all the event will be so traumatic it will follow them like a dark shadow the rest of their lives. From the pits of despair the story reveals how a group of professionals, whose work is largely unknown outside of hospitals, and yet are responsible for 90 percent of diagnostic procedures, deal with a once in a lifetime major incident of unbelievable horror, they will experience the gamut of all human emotions.

`.....perhaps one day children will grow up not playing doctors and nurses but doctors, nurses and radiographers!..'

This is the first book to cast a radiographer as a main character. Many people outside of the hospital environment are ignorant of radiographers. Some people refer to radiographers as `button pushers' or `x-ray nurses'. Turn on any TV programme read any medical thriller/fiction and you will find numerous medical characters like doctors, nurses, psychologists -not radiographers. The public's comments are thus symptomatic of this attitude. This first `faction' book with a radiographer as the main character makes for compelling reading.

The Government is trying to address the public's perception of radiographers, hence the instituting of Radiographer of the Year Competition in November annually. Radiographers are involved in nearly ninety percent of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. For example, the book mentions a dialogue between two ambulance men. They discuss famous TV and media medical characters. Josh, Charlie Fairhead and Harry represent paramedics, nurses and consultants in the BBC TV drama Casualty. George Clooney's Dr Ross in NBC's ER has made this character universal. Doctors Raj and Jones of ITV's `Good Morning TV' are household names. There is no similar recognition of radiographers.

The book although fictional will hopefully help educate the public in the diverse roles of radiographers and how they interact overtly and covertly in people's lives. For example Wayne Rooney has made the public aware of the metatarsal bone in the foot. But how was his broken metatarsal diagnosed, by a radiographer using x-rays. Many people are aware of cruciate ligament injuries to the knee but are ignorant of the diagnostic methods used for evaluation and classification.

Diagnostic Radiographers are involved in, Ultrasound, CT, MRI, Nuclear Medicine, Bone Density, Endoscopies, Cardiac surgery, and Dental examinations and scans. In the operating theatre they are necessary for urology and orthopaedic procedures. Forensic Radiography is another branch unknown to the public. On an educational note archaeologists, historians and anthropologists have utilized their diagnostic skills in finding more about our ancestors by x-raying mummies, tombs etc without opening caskets. Unknown to the public are radiographers who undertake research in Universities and non academic facilities.

Then there are the Therapeutic Radiographers who play an important role in cancer diagnosis. The recent fall in some cancers has led to the profile of some medics being raised but not radiographers. However, most cancer patients will be exposed to a Therapeutic Radiographer who will be an integral part of their treatment and care.

With so much negative publicity relating to the health service this book shows a different aspect of the NHS and that in spite of MRSA, C DIFF, rising litigation, a few incompetent doctors etc etc there are individuals and professions, some prominent, others working tirelessly without fanfare in the background who feel and care deeply about those who they meet.

When a major incident occurs as in Lockerbie, Dunblane, in Scotland, 9/11 in the US the July atrocities in London or the bombings in Mumbai, Spain or any country worldwide radiographers will be involved in the medical chain. Once all efforts to save a life have been completed a radiographer's role goes on. They may have to x-ray a dead body to provide forensic information for pathologists, coroners, or the police. These individuals are therefore not immune to the emotional and psychological scars their patients undergo.

Radiographers do not just take pictures of bones they see traumatic situations daily.

Enjoy the book and I hope once you've read it with an open unbiased mind you will have a different concept of radiographers. And who knows perhaps one day children will grow up not playing doctors and nurses but doctors, nurses and radiographers! Oh and lastly why not listen to the song `I Can See Clearly Now' by Johnny Nash it portrays the whole sentiments of this book.