Rachel Clarke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rachel Clarke
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Rachel Clarke, Royal Society of Medicine, London (2024)
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| Born | 1972 (age 52–53) Wiltshire, England
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| 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 (born 1972) is a British writer and doctor. She works in palliative care, which means she helps people who are very ill feel comfortable and supported. She works at Great Western Hospital.
Before becoming a doctor, Rachel Clarke was a journalist. She reported on important world events. She later decided to study medicine, starting in 2003 and becoming a doctor in 2009. She also spoke out during a disagreement between junior doctors and the government about their work contracts.
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Early Life and Education
Rachel Clarke was born in Wiltshire, England, in 1972. Her father was a doctor and her mother was a nurse. She has a twin sister and a brother.
In 1993, she finished her studies at the University of Oxford. She studied philosophy, politics, and economics. She is married to Dave, who is a commercial pilot.
From Journalism to Medicine
Before becoming a doctor, Rachel Clarke worked as a journalist. She made documentaries for TV channels like Channel 4 and the BBC. These documentaries covered many different topics.
When she was 29, she started studying medicine at University College London. She later moved to Oxford to finish her medical training. She graduated and began working as a doctor in 2009.
Supporting the NHS
Rachel Clarke became well-known for speaking up for the NHS. This happened when the government tried to change the contracts for junior doctors. She believed these changes would harm the NHS.
She often spoke on TV and wrote articles about her concerns. She worried that doctors would find it harder to care for patients with kindness. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, she was interviewed many times. She also appeared on the BBC show Question Time.
Clarke also shared her thoughts on the "Clap for Our Carers" event during the pandemic. She felt that clapping was not enough to help healthcare workers. She believed more support was needed for those who had lost loved ones.
Her Books
Rachel Clarke has written several books about her experiences as a doctor.
Your Life in My Hands
Her first book, Your Life in My Hands, came out in 2017. It shares her stories as a new doctor. The book talks about dealing with pain and difficult situations. It also discusses how the NHS is funded and the importance of having enough doctors and nurses. This book became a best-seller.
Dear Life
Her second book, Dear Life, was published in 2020. This book explores what it's like to care for people at the end of their lives. It talks about death, dying, and how doctors help patients and their families. The book was recognized with several awards.
Breathtaking
In 2021, Rachel Clarke's book Breathtaking was released. This book is about the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. It shares her own experiences working in the NHS during the first wave of the pandemic. She also included interviews with other doctors, patients, and their families. The book shows what it was like inside hospitals during that time. A TV series was made based on this book.
Story of a Heart
Her book Story of a Heart, published in 2024, received the Women's Prize for Non-Fiction in 2025.
