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Doctors are cutting hours to safeguard their wellbeing
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World-first paediatric clinical trial using Versius robot
Years of worsening levels of satisfaction and burnout are leading doctors to ‘take matters into their own hands’ to improve their wellbeing and reduce potential risk to patient care, the General Medical Council (GMC) warns in a new report. The regulator’s latest annual report into the workplace experiences of doctors in the UK shows that doctors are increasingly taking steps themselves to address workload and capacity pressures. The report found that higher proportions of doctors are reducing their hours (19% in 2023 and 18% in 2022, compared with 8% in 2021) and declining to take on additional work (41% in 2023 and 42% in 2022, compared with 23% in 2021). Such moves can help safeguard patient care, for example by doctors not working additional hours if they are already exhausted. But the GMC warns that, if the trend continues unaddressed, the capacity of already stretched health services could be reduced even more, putting patients at risk. It says better solutions are needed urgently. According to the latest data, one in three doctors (33%) were found to be ‘struggling’, meaning they are regularly working beyond their rostered hours and feeling unable to cope with their workload. Almost a quarter of doctors (23%) took a leave
of absence due to stress in the previous year, consistent with 2022 (22%), but up from 17% in 2021. The GMC says high proportions of doctors saying they are ‘struggling’ presents risks to patients and the workforce. Concerning patterns are seen across all groups;
however, some fare worse than others. Nearly half (48%) of GPs are struggling and consistently have worse experiences than others since the report began in 2019. Disabled doctors also continue to report worse experiences than those without, being more likely to be dissatisfied in their work (44% vs 38%) and consider retiring early (13% vs 7%). Charlie Massey, Chief Executive of the GMC, said:
“We know that when doctors are overworked and under supported there is a risk not only to doctors themselves, but also to patient care. “These data show that more doctors are now taking matters into their own hands, not just to protect their own health and wellbeing, but that of their patients as well. For many, this will often be the only responsible course to deliver safe care. But this action comes with risks. We must be clear that doctors protecting their wellbeing is essential, but they shouldn’t feel their only option is to reduce their working hours. This presents challenges in capacity planning, adding further pressure to services that are already stretched.” The regulator says employers and healthcare bodies need to do more to support doctors now, while longer term solutions are developed by workforce planners to improve conditions. The report says employers should: l Focus on developing more compassionate leadership.
l Create more supportive and inclusive environments, which are built on providing inductions for new joiners.
l Demonstrate that doctors and other healthcare professionals are properly valued.
l Make sure doctors feel empowered and listened to.
Mr Massey continued: “Employers and healthcare bodies must listen to the needs of their workforce and respond urgently. Targeted changes must be made to support the one in three doctors struggling to provide the care their patients deserve. If the UK’s health services are to retain more doctors, which will be vital to tackling waiting lists, then it is critical to reverse these extremely concerning trends. We need better, stronger, and more resilient healthcare services for the future.” To find out more and to access previous reports, visit
https://tinyurl.com/ywsen5nj
10
www.clinicalservicesjournal.com I September 2024
CMR Surgical (CMR) – the global surgical robotics business – has announced that it has commenced the first multicentre prospective clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of Versius for use in paediatric surgery. The trial is focusing on children and infants under the age of 18, undergoing a range of urological procedures with Versius including, but not limited to, robotic assisted pyeloplasty, ureteroureterostomy, nephrectomy and Mitrofanoff formation. The Versius Surgical Robotic System is a small, modular and versatile surgical robot used for robotic assisted minimal access surgery. The small and modular design of Versius allows the system to be set up in a way that gives the surgeon optimal access in small, hard to reach spaces within an operating zone, while maintaining clear access to the patient for the anaesthetist and wider surgical team. The multicentre prospective clinical trial will be performed in partnership with three clinical sites across the NHS. The Department of Paediatric Urology at Southampton Children’s Hospital – the primary site of the trial led by Mr Ewan Brownlee – has become the first to perform paediatric urology surgery with Versius in a clinical trial. The Department of Paediatric Urology at
Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, led by Mr David Keene; and Department of Paediatric Urology, and the Evelina London Children’s Hospital, part of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, led by Mr Pankaj Mishra make up the remaining sites taking part in the clinical trial. Ewan Brownlee, Chief Investigator of the
prospective clinical trial and Consultant Paediatric Surgeon at Southampton Children’s Hospital commented: “It is a privilege to be part of such a
fantastic team here in Southampton; there is a huge list of people who have helped get us to this point of being able to start the first clinical trial using Versius in children and I am truly grateful to them all.
“It has also been a pleasure to be able
to collaborate with excellent colleagues in Manchester and the Evelina and with CMR to be able to deliver this trial. We are excited for what feels like a landmark step forward in the development of paediatric robotic surgery.”
Arnéll Koegelenberg/
peopleimages.com -
stock.adobe.com
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