By the way . . . here’s why your GP looks a little sad

THE Americans have being surveying their doctors to determine which speciality is happiest. Looking at the health headlines it’s hard to believe there is any job satisfaction in an industry that seems to be dominated by cuts, stress and general decline.

But doctors are a hardy bunch and most are in the trade not to make money but to make people well. Medicine is after all a vocation and not, as one of my professors put it, a vacation.

So which US doctors are happiest? Allergy specialists and immunologists top the list — a speciality that is still pretty niche (and under-resourced) in Ireland but thriving in the States.

Next come the dermatologists — no surprise there. Dermatology is a fascinating area and one that rarely requires you to get out of bed in the middle of the night. Plus your patients will be eternally grateful as you will not only make them feel better but also look better.

Cardiologists on the other hand are amongst the most deflated. A staggering 60% of heart specialists surveyed were not happy. One wonders how you can fix someone else’s heart if your own is hurting?

General physicians came out as being a little sad also and interestingly the ones who most likely to be married to other healthcare professionals (not sure if there’s a link there)?

Pathologists were also a bit melancholic, understandable given their job description. They also admitted to having fewer friends than other professions.

Questions about exercise, alcohol and cigarette smoking revealed further nuances among different medical professions. A tenth of Irish hospital doctors report some sort of mental health issues and a similar number admit to using alcohol as a crutch.

I’m a doctor. While I’m happy in my job, my work life balance could definitely be better. But who’s to say if I was in another job it would be any different. We all like to moan whatever our profession — maybe we’re happiest simply doing nothing!