Celebrating Acute Medicine Week (CAMW) 2025 runs from Monday 15th September to Sunday 21st September and amongst the themes is promoting health and wellbeing. Being a healthcare professional can be incredibly challenging particularly in the National Health Service (NHS), but it can also be very rewarding. This alongside how a realisation of how well we have done to reach where we have gives a great deal of satisfaction and hopefully comfort.
Nonetheless, there will be times when things can become overwhelming, I can certainly vouch for that a personal level. It can sometimes feel like you are in a long dark tunnel or battling in a field alone against all the odds. Some may feel they have to fight it alone or feel like it is their duty to help others and hence how could they seek help themselves. That may be down to not knowing where to turn to, or being too scared to seek help.
The purpose of this blog and the reason why wellbeing is a theme for CAMW 2025 is we want to make sure that no one is alone and we can take some steps to manage our health and wellbeing. In the first instance is there things we could be doing indivdually to help manage our lifestyle and reduce stress and burnout – lets not forget we have given out such advice to patients, so we should be practicing what we are preaching ourselves. The things you could be doing – having breaks, even if it is a 1-2 minute to yourself if there is a particular distressing issue, ensuring you attend educational activities so you are not a ward monkey, ask for help when needed, if your struggling with a task, dont struggle on – there may be someone who can do something in 5 minutes which you would have needed an hour for. Make sure you are always adequately nourished, hydrated and if applicable caffeinated (thats huge for me and probably a lot of you who will be reading this). If applicable to you, have a special skill or QIP so that again, you are not purely performing mundane tasks the whole time, you have something that you find interesting. Outside of work, maintain hobbies and a social life you are comfortable with.
Is your work schedule or workload creating too much pressure on you and hence should you speak up about it. There is always someone you can speak to, and if its affecting you, then dont be shy to raise it and keep talking about it until something happens. If there is something that is affecting your wellbeing then voice it as such and its more likely to be taken seriously. Points of contact in your workplace include your direct peers, your clinical and/or educational supervisors, relevant personell who can deal with the specific issue(s) you are having which may include the clinical service lead, rota co-ordinator, trainee representatives, freedom to speak up guardian, chief registrar, BMA representatives, associate college tutor and educational lead. This list by no means exhaustive but gives you an idea that there are support networks wherever you may work. This in addition to any personal suppors you may have which will include friends and family. There are some organisations who can provide help to healthcare professionals: BMA Wellbeing (UK wide), who also have an excellent counselling service as well who can give individualised six one hour sessions at a time convienient to you. There are experienced call handlers, useful help and resources on the website and an app which also has help with meditation. NHS Practitioner Health (PH) is open to practitoners in England and are also often recommended by General Practitioners. You will be seen by an experienced clinician who will make a detailed assessment of what your going through and offer suggestions for any support you need. PH can also offer counselling if needed, as well as more formal psychotherapy and suggestions for courses that may help. Moreover, NHS England offer a Professional Support and Wellbeing service who can also support those who are having difficulty, particularly through health or other personal or even professional reasons and give practical suggestions if you are in a phased return to work period. The devolved nations have other dedicated equivalent organisations – National Wellbeing Hub in Scotland, Canopi in Wales and Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency.
Be safe. Be strong. Share your on wellbeing tips using hashtags #CAMW25, #flourishonthefrontline