Rachel Clarke facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rachel Clarke
Rachel Clarke, Royal Society of Medicine, London (2024)
Born	1972 (age 52–53) Wiltshire, England
Education	Oxford University University College London
Medical career
Profession	Physician
Field	Palliative care
Institutions	Oxford University University College London
Notable works	Your Life in My Hands (2017) Dear Life (2020) Breathtaking (2021)
Awards	Women's Prize for Non-Fiction (2025)

Rachel Clarke is a British doctor and writer. She helps people who are very ill, a field called palliative care. She is well-known for writing books about her work as a doctor in the NHS. The NHS is the UK's public healthcare system.

Her book Breathtaking shares what it was like working in a hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. This book was even made into a TV show. She has also written other popular books, like Your Life in My Hands and Dear Life.

Before becoming a doctor, Rachel Clarke was a journalist. She reported on important world events. She later decided to study medicine and became a doctor in 2009. She often speaks up for doctors and the NHS.

Rachel Clarke: Early Life and Career

Rachel Clarke was born in Wiltshire, England, in 1972. Her father was a doctor and her mother was a nurse. So, medicine was a big part of her family life. She has a twin sister and a brother. In 1993, she finished her studies at the University of Oxford. She earned a degree in philosophy, politics, and economics.

From Journalist to Doctor

Before she became a doctor, Clarke had an exciting job as a journalist. She created documentaries for big TV channels. These included the BBC and Channel 4. Her work took her around the world. She covered major events like the Gulf War. She also reported on the civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

At age 29, Clarke decided to change her career. She went back to school to study medicine. She attended University College London. She finished her medical training at Oxford. She started working as a doctor in 2009.

Rachel Clarke: A Voice for the NHS

Rachel Clarke became a strong voice for doctors in the UK. In 2015, she spoke out during a big disagreement. This was between new doctors and the government. The government wanted to change the doctors' job rules and pay.

Clarke argued that these changes could hurt the NHS. She worried that tired doctors might find it hard to be caring. She appeared on TV shows. She also wrote articles to share her concerns.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, she was often interviewed. She talked about the challenges doctors and nurses faced.

Rachel Clarke: A Doctor Who Writes

Rachel Clarke has shared her experiences as a doctor. She has written several successful books. Her writing gives people a look inside the world of medicine.

Your Life in My Hands (2017)

Her first book, Your Life in My Hands, describes being a new doctor. It talks about long hours and difficult situations. It also shares amazing moments. The book discusses challenges facing the NHS. These include funding and staff shortages. It became a bestseller in the Sunday Times.

Dear Life (2020)

Her second book, Dear Life, is about palliative care. This field focuses on making seriously ill people comfortable. The book explores tough subjects with kindness. It was praised for being "tender, funny, brave, and heartfelt."

Breathtaking (2021)

Clarke's book Breathtaking tells a powerful story. It describes the COVID-19 pandemic from inside a hospital. She wrote about what she and her colleagues saw. They cared for very sick patients. The book was so impactful it became a TV drama in 2024.

Her 2024 book, Story of a Heart, won the 2025 Women's Prize for Non-Fiction.