Action for NHS Wellbeing 2016-2017
Whilst we have been quiet on this site, a lot of action has been going on behind the scenes and our peer-peer Basecamp-enabled support network of some 50 people have been actively campaigning and beavering away over the last 12 months.
During that time we have:
– Been instrumental in continuing the pressure for an occupational health service for GPs in England; work catalysed 3 years ago by Dr Chris Hewitt, Dr Chris Manning, Convenor of AfNHSW Dr Chris Manning and Dr Clare Gerada with a Maslach Burnout Inventory Survey of nearly 1800 GPs and the introduction of the PULSE Battling Burnout Campaign. This vital service has just been announced by NHS England and will be be run by Hurley Group’s Practitioner Health Programme
– Co-designed and contributed to the University of Westminster Centre for Resilience Symposium: “The day after tomorrow’s doctors”. You can read the key findings and full recommendations here
This event is to be repeated in September 2017
– Formed a strong working relationship with Surviving Work and an invitation to contribute on the issue of resilience and NHS workplace toxicity to the London School of Economics (LSE) Blog Series
– Attended the New Savoy Conference 2016, where Dr Chris Manning opened the conference with a personal reflection about his depression and the work-related causes of it. The Conference specifically paid great attention to the increasing burden of stress and illness amongst psychologists and launched a Pledge for their Wellbeing
– Contacted the General Medical Council; Chair of the House of Commons Health Select Committee, Dr Sarah Wollaston; The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges; Medical Schools Council and Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) about the need for curricula that train doctors in self-care and mutual support principles and practice as well as addressing the increasingly parlous state of morale and wellbeing of increasing numbers working in the NHS
– Conducted and published, with Ms Eunice Mindford, research in the Journal of Compassion in Healthcare about Current status and attitudes to self-care training in UK medical schools
– Published a reflective article “Resilience: A personal story” in InnovAiT