COVID-19 impact on training, morale and wellbeing

30 March 2020

As the response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the bodies involved in delivery of postgraduate training in anaesthesia and intensive care medicine are working together to prepare for an interruption in the normal training environment.

Chief Medical Officers and Deans across the four Nations as well as the Royal College of Anaesthetists and the General Medical Council are committed to minimising the impact of this exceptional working on the progression of anaesthetists in training and will be putting together plans to manage this.

Supporting the COVID-19 response: guidance regarding medical education and training

Consideration of wellbeing

It is important that anaesthetists in training and trainers work together to ensure everyone is safe, that those in training continue to be supervised at a level appropriate to grade and that proper induction is in place if anaesthetists in training are asked to work outside their normal environment.  If normal rotas are altered, these should continue to be compliant.

We would expect that trusts will make arrangements to ensure 24-hour access to refreshments for all staff including anaesthetists in training. They should also prioritise considerations around travel to and from the hospital, access to rest facilities and regular debriefing. Teams should ensure that all staff and particularly anaesthetists in training have an opportunity to share difficult experiences and receive appropriate mentorship to support their own psychological well-being and that of the team. Some useful resources can be found below.

• Intensive Care Society – wellbeing resource library.

• Association of Anaesthetists – managing stress.

• Association of Anaesthetists – mentoring scheme.

• British Medical Association – wellbeing, support and counselling service.

• Academy of Medical Royal Colleges – mental health and wellbeing for healthcare professionals.

ENDS