Festive pressures - support for trainees

Medical Director leads thank you messages and support to trainees as 2023 draws to a close.

Winter pressures and increased working patterns over busy festive periods mean we know that many of our colleagues in training will be working hard over the next few weeks. Trainees from across the UK including those away from their home countries will be sacrificing time with family and friends to give much-needed care to patients.

Lead Employer Medical Director, Professor Andrew Rowland wants to offer his sincere appreciation but also remind trainees to take care during pressured periods and to access support that is available to them.

He said: “I didn't want the mince pie to be eaten, and the carrot to have disappeared, without saying a huge thank you to you all for your work over the last 12 months.

I know that many of you will be working over the festive period and that you may be separated from family and friends whilst caring for patients. Thank you for everything you do, in whichever specialty you work in to ensure our patients and their families are cared for at a time of year that I know is difficult and full of competing pressures. Your work is very much appreciated by the team here at Lead Employer. Please do take some time for self-care between now and the New Year and recognise that looking after yourselves, and your friends and family, is really important.

For anyone needing to access support over the next few weeks, we have many avenues of support, including access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), where you can speak to someone about a range of matters including managing stress, emotional wellbeing, anxiety and depression. You can also access sessions with a trained counsellor, should this be appropriate. You can contact them on 0300 131 2067 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) and access further information here.

Our Health Work and Wellbeing Team are also available to help and support you. You can self-refer or be referred by your manager to our service, which provides support for colleagues with a wide range of issues. You can contact the team by calling 0151 430 1985 or email wellbeing.referrals@sthk.nhs.uk 

Visit our Wellbeing Hub for more details.