Just smouldering
I would recommend a good article by NHS Employers about burnout in the NHS - https://www.nhsemployers.org/articles/beating-burnout-nhs
Many NHS staff are indeed suffering ‘physical and emotional exhaustion’ from ‘experiencing long term stress’ or working ‘in a physically or emotionally draining role for a long time’.
NHS Employers outline steps that should be taken to improve the wellbeing of staff. They indicate this approach will also bring financial benefits to the organisation and improve the quality of patient care. The solutions proposed involve ensuring adequate staffing, more training, recognising pressure, mental health interventions and better leadership.
These solutions are all good. But I have a small problem with this approach. Many employees would not recognise themselves as physically or emotionally exhausted. For the majority, it's business as usual, they turn up and do their best in increasingly difficult circumstances, and they recognise on a daily basis that their best just isn't as good as it used to be.
It is clear that staffing levels are important and contribute to the stress of the workforce. Having to cover other people's work takes away from your own. And if the people who are there are unhappy, it tends to spread.
However, the four-pronged solution always seems to be:
Management skills training
CPD and professional development
Medical interventions
Mental health, especially talking therapy
For most of us, CPD and Management Training are not going to help. Unless we are physically or emotionally unwell, medicine, in whatever form, is not going to help either.
As a coach, I believe most people in the NHS need a listening ear, a safe space to describe and understand their current situation and think clearly about where they want to go. Solving the structural and workforce issues will help in the long term, but we need staff who are happy where they are, can put up with the many imperfections of the NHS and are clear about their career aspirations.
Most are driven by wanting to treat patients well. The main frustration is that, at the moment, the NHS is simply getting in the way of their ability to do this. Most are not yet burned out, but just smouldering.
If you recognise yourself in these descriptions, there is a group of trained and experienced people ready and able to provide coaching. It starts with a free no obligation 30 minute conversation which you can book here.