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Reviewed 27/02/2021 ~ 5y, modified 13/05/2023
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Medicine can be the best and most rewarding career, but it also can be one of the toughest. Don't forget to give yourself time to sleep. Time to eat. Time to enjoy things outside of medicine.
Burnout is linked to sub-optimal patient care, we know this yet we think we're invincible. Look after yourself first and the way you care for patients will be so much better.
Health and well-being
This is undoubtedly going to be a difficult and stressful period that will go on for several months. It's important we all take care of ourselves as best as possible. Below are links to food shopping, support being offered to key workers and things to do in downtime.
External support
The Intensive Care Society has produced a range of well-being resources available here.
NHS Shopping hours
Please maintain 2 m separation and shop as infrequently as possible. In recognition of our working constraints, many supermarket chains have instigated reserved NHS shopping hours:
Tesco - Sundays 9 till 10 am.
Asda - Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 8 till 9 am
Sainsbury's - Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 8 till 9 am
Aldi - Sundays 9:30 till 10 am.
Co-op - 8am to 9am Monday – Saturday and 10am to 11am on Sundays
Audible are offering a range of free audiobooks here
Netflix Party is a chrome extension that allows you to synchronise play with friends and adds chat functionality
Stay connected with friends via video chat. Zoom allows for multiple people to join via a code.
NHS Practitioner Health Programme
The NHS Practitioner Health Programme is an award winning, free and confidential NHS service for doctors and dentists with issues relating to a mental or physical health concern or addiction problem, in particular where these might affect their work. http://php.nhs.uk/
Sleep
Mike Farquhar, consultant in paediatric sleep medicine at Evelina Children’s Hospital: “When you ask someone to work a night shift it’s like putting them on a plane to Sydney and expecting them to run an intensive care unit when they get off.”
Night shift tips
Aim to stick to a consistent routine during each shift
Work as a team to provide cover for breaks
Consider the use of “bleep filtering” systems to minimise interruption to team members on breaks
Avoid high calorie, high fat, and high carbohydrate foods: night shift calories do count, and contribute significantly to increased risks of impaired glucose tolerance and cardiovascular disease
Try to maintain your normal eating patterns as much as possible when working nights
Aim to minimise eating between midnight and 6 am where possible, and when you do eat choose healthy, satisfying options
Keep well hydrated: carry a water bottle and drink regularly
During breaks, have short (15 to 20 min) naps
Use caffeine carefully
Don’t drive home if tired, find somewhere to have a short nap
Farquhar M. Fifteen-minute consultation on problems in the healthy paediatrician: managing the effects of shift work on your health. Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed, 2016; edpract-2016-312119. doi:10.1136/archdischild-2016-312119pmid:27986787.
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement has produced a range of leadership and team wellbeing resources available here. http://www.ihi.org/Topics/Joy-In-Work
Social media and online communities can be a huge source of support for doctors. Remember to not discuss patients and remain professional at all times. Remember to check the GMC Guidance on Doctors use of social media
The twitter hashtag #TipsForNewDocs has become a great way for doctors to share their advice and wisdom with those at the start of their medical careers.
The BMA
It is challenging to start a new post, whatever stage of your training you are. The BMA has advice, support and information to guide you through your next transition. If you are a member they can also advise you on contractual issues and help with work disputes. https://www.bma.org.uk/advice/career/applying-for-training/changeover
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