27.09.19
Doctors need more flexible shifts to prevent ‘burnout’
The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh has called for more flexible working patterns to help prevent doctor burnout after a new report was published today.
More doctors have been encouraged to remain in the NHS and urged the NHS to continue to retain and recruit a world class workforce, vital in delivering excellent service.
The college works with the UK Government, councils and other organisations to ensure quality physicians are recruited and kept within the NHS working suitable rotas, as a matter of priority.
The report, authored by their Trainees and Members Committee (T&MC), calls for less than full time (LTFT) working to be more accessible to medical trainees and consultants.
Benefits of LTFT will stretch to more flexibility, a happier medical workplace, higher quality training, lower burnout rates and address the current trainee drop-out levels.
Medium to long term effects of rota flexibility will see improved wellbeing and ease the chronic shortage of NHS consultants by improving work-life balance and job satisfaction.
A survey carried out on 600 trainees and found that doctors who worked LTFT were overburdened by admin duties and find the training too expensive.
The number of doctors working LTFT has grown in recent years. The latest data suggests that 15% of trainees are now working LTFT, the overwhelming majority of whom are female (91%).
Childcare, the pursuit of work-life balance, and preventing burnout are among the main reasons for opted for LTFT.
Commenting, Dr Anna Olsson-Brown, Chair of the T&MC, said:
“The group of doctors working LTFT is growing, yet we tend to know much less about them. We felt that it was important to understand the attitudes towards, and knowledge of, LTFT working. In doing so, we have highlighted the benefits and challenges of working LTFT. We hope to make this form of working more accessible to trainees and consultants in the NHS.”
Dr Amy Illsley, Deputy Chair of the T&MC, said:
“We think that it is important to give doctors flexibility in their professional working patterns. Underpinning this should be a keen understanding from senior medical colleagues about the needs and interests of trainees and junior doctors. Our report reveals that there could be a better understanding of LTFT working from senior colleagues, and we also want to see change to improve attitudes across the board to LTFT.”