By Professor Jackie Taylor

“PHYSICIAN heal thyself” is a proverb which can be interpreted in many ways. I like to think of it as a reminder to doctors of the importance of “healing”, or looking after their wellbeing, so that we can provide the best possible care to our patients. There are very real concerns about the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic and social distancing will have on the nation’s physical and mental health, and doctors are affected by these factors as much as anyone else. In addition, we are also dealing with physically and emotionally demanding workloads, with additional concerns about personal protective equipment and our personal safety. The long-term and cumulative psychological effects of this sustained high level of stress should not be underestimated. It is right that we should be concerned about doctors’ wellbeing.

A survey published last week showed worrying trends in the mental health of healthcare workers since the start of the pandemic. Half of those questioned said their mental health had deteriorated in this time: 49 per cent have worries about their family’s safety because of a lack of testing and protective equipment, while 43 per cent are concerned about the ability to ensure that our patients receive high-quality care given the pressure that health and social care services are currently experiencing.

These issues are worrying not just because we have a responsibility to care for each other, but because we know from research that improving staff wellbeing improves quality of care, patient safety and patient satisfaction.

My request is that society remembers the selfless contribution of doctors, and indeed all healthcare professionals, during this crisis and that we will make their wellbeing a priority. This will require effort, resources, a clear framework and leadership.

The response to Covid-19 has also resulted in many positive changes within the NHS. I’ve seen incredible team working, the breaking down of silos, the manifestation of a “can-do” attitude across the health service, all combined with a real sense of purpose and belonging. These are all recommendations from many reports on how to improve institutional wellbeing.

Not only have we redesigned how healthcare is delivered in a matter of weeks, we’ve also witnessed the much-needed implementation of essential measures such as rest areas and refreshments for staff, things which were seen as impossible just a few weeks ago. Once the Covid-19crisis is over, we must build on new ways of working and on all that has been achieved. The pandemic, while undoubtedly placing incredible strain on doctors’ wellbeing, may yet be a catalyst for its salvation.

Until now, wellbeing has been everybody’s business, but no one’s responsibility. The whole agenda in Scotland has been diluted by a lack of structure, and in particular by the failure to develop a coordinated, nationwide programme of services for doctors with mental health issues.

The appointment of a National Clinical Lead with responsibility for Wellbeing across NHS Scotland could achieve a great deal. We know that doctors often fail to seek help when they require it, and the development of a “Practitioner Health Programme”, mirroring the excellent service provided for our colleagues in NHS England, is now essential.

We owe it to our staff, not to pay lip service to their health and wellbeing, but to provide them with coordinated and compassionate care that they will require in the aftermath of this pandemic. To do otherwise is to fail them. Sometimes physicians cannot heal themselves.

Professor Jackie Taylor is President of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow