Doctors need proper help, not gimmicks

IN THE course of my job, I’ve been kicked, spat at, punched, had knives drawn on me and twice been taken hostage.

This is fairly common in A&E, and many colleagues have had similar experiences.

We have our own ways of dealing with this — largely humour — and I’ve always felt it rather goes with the territory.

I certainly never felt the need for a ‘safe space’ to retreat to after a traumatic experience. But that’s the latest initiative from Health Secretary Matt Hancock. He says it will help the NHS avoid ‘burnout’ in staff.

This is not only unbelievably patronising, it also misses an important point.

If Mr Hancock wants to address burnout, then he should tackle the real cause, which is not being able to get some of our patients the help they need. Can you imagine the sadness and frustration of dealing with a suicidal individual, referring them for more treatment — and then discovering it’s not available?

It happens all the time. That’s what staff find ‘traumatic’ and what causes burnout.