Roundtable: How can organisations support their clinical staff?

Read the detailed report of the roundtable here

The pandemic has taken a lot out of the NHS workforce, many of whom are exhausted and concerned about facing a challenging winter period. Stress and burnout are also affecting many of them with concerns that this could eventually impact on recruitment and retention.

This may be particularly true of clinicians. Junior doctors may have been redeployed during the pandemic and some newly qualified foundation year trainees may have missed out on clinical placements in some specialty areas as medical students. Other doctors may not have done as much continuing professional development as usual – simply because of the pressure of work – or could be working in different ways or new locations.

At the same time, NHS managers know they have a massive agenda to deliver – including reducing waiting lists, ensuring that potentially serious conditions are prioritised for diagnostic tests and treatment, and coping with an influx of respiratory patients this winter – all while delivering on budgets and enhancing productivity.

How can organisations help their clinical staff through this period, while also delivering what is expected to them? An HSJ roundtable, in association with Wolters Kluwer, brought together clinicians, managers and other experts to look at this.