The British Medical Association has today (Thursday 19 May 2022) published two reports into the Government’s handling of the pandemic and its impact on the NHS, the health of the population, and doctors.
Commenting on this, Dr Naeem Nazem, head of medical division at MDDUS, said: “These reports make sad, and sometimes distressing, reading.
“They also reflect what our members have told us about how working through two years of pandemic has affected them. We carried out a survey of our members in December 2021, and a third of them told us their current level of health and wellbeing was worse than in comparison to the first wave of Covid-19 in 2020.
“This was more pronounced among GPs where 43 per cent reported this. Furthermore, compared to 2020 nearly half of MDDUS members are experiencing a higher level of stress and anxiety at work.
“As the NHS continues to recover from the huge pressure placed on it by the pandemic, it is crucial that when taking decisions about workforce planning that protecting health professionals’ wellbeing is treated as a top priority. There’s no need to wait for the public inquiry to start this process.
“We recognise this and in response have increased our own wellbeing services for MDDUS members as part of the support and expertise we offer them.”
ENDS
The Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS) is a mutual organisation that protects the professional interests of more than 54,000 doctors and dentists across the United Kingdom, offering access to indemnity, support and legal advice.
For further information please contact Alison Hardie, head of public affairs and strategic communications, on ahardie@mddus.com or on 07501 421398
This page was correct at the time of publication. Any guidance is intended as general guidance for members only. If you are a member and need specific advice relating to your own circumstances, please contact one of our advisers.