Rising concerns surrounding the health and wellbeing of medical staff were raised in Tuesday’s Health and Social Care Select Committee this week, as increasing numbers of healthcare professionals experience ‘burnout’ during the pandemic.

With infection rates still rising, healthcare staff have been under increasing pressure since the start of the pandemic.  Dr Karen Forshaw a GP in Doncaster told the BBC in a recent interview that workloads would increase ‘exponentially’ following the vaccination rollout and GP services returning to normal.  Dr Forshaw described the level of pressure felt by healthcare professionals a ‘physical’, adding that; ‘There are high levels of burnout in healthcare professionals as a whole’.

Professor Jeremy Dawson, professor of health management at Sheffield University spoke directly to MPs at the Select Committee hearing.  He advised the panel that; ‘The problem I see at the moment is that we are relying on the goodwill and the going extra mile-and-a-half of the staff, which is simply unsustainable’. 

Dr Daniele Bryden of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine (FICM) supported Prof. Dawson’s observations whilst adding her concerns for intensive care staff.  She described their efforts as ‘working at full pelt’ since the start of the pandemic back in March.

She said; ‘Not only are they very tired – many have Covid themselves, or have been isolating. I think the psychological impact of what they are doing is considerable for many of them.’

Figures released by NHS England reported that up to 6 January 2021, the number of Covid-19 related staff absences, either through sickness or self-isolation reached 49,704.  Although these numbers are significantly lower than those recorded in the week up to 7 April 2020, where recorded absences stood at 106,597; it is clear that such a constant demand on our healthcare staff is not sustainable.

Health Secretary, Matt Hancock advised the Select Committee that the UK was currently at the ‘worst point’ of the pandemic, which has seen further complications with the new variant of Covid-19.  He urged members of the general public to ‘do their bit’ to help the NHS by following the Government’s advice (Hands – Face – Space).

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Carrie Plummer - Editor & Content Manager