Re: Burnout is harming GPs’ health and patient care, doctors warn
Dear Editor
I am a dermatopathologist and histopathologist. I was consultant at the RLH/Barts in 2001/2002, then I left the UK to live and work in Bahrain - for 18 yrs it turned out. I returned to the UK in October 2020 and I am currently doing locum work as consultant histopathologist/dermatopathologist.
In my locum posts I have noticed that many pathologists are having to do far too much (in my view). They have to do at least 3, sometimes 4 or 5 Multidisciplinary Team meetings (MDT) per week, in addition to the heavy diagnostic biopsy/cytology reporting. To me this seems unacceptable and overburdensome. Pathologists are finding that other than MDT preparation, MDT attendance, and heavy biopsy reporting while teaching and training the next generation of pathologists, there is little time to do anything else. Academic reading time is minimal/non-existent, and contemplation time is limited to the few moments that comprise lunch: It's like an understaffed conveyor belt. Of course, secretarial typing pools are also constantly in a state of searching for MDT slides while shouldering their other usual duties.
I was struck by the way departments were stretched to their limits, and how the diligence and teamwork of doctors, biomedical scientists, and all other departmental staff was keeping them above water. I am concerned, however, about the additional pressures that are likely to accompany the increase/resumption of routine surgery and surgical biopsy load following the full lifting of lockdown.
I am told that there are many histopathology departments nationwide which are similarly overstretched. What can we do to mitigate these immense work pressures and arrive at a work-life balance that is truly healthy and fulfilling?
Rapid Response:
Re: Burnout is harming GPs’ health and patient care, doctors warn
Dear Editor
I am a dermatopathologist and histopathologist. I was consultant at the RLH/Barts in 2001/2002, then I left the UK to live and work in Bahrain - for 18 yrs it turned out. I returned to the UK in October 2020 and I am currently doing locum work as consultant histopathologist/dermatopathologist.
In my locum posts I have noticed that many pathologists are having to do far too much (in my view). They have to do at least 3, sometimes 4 or 5 Multidisciplinary Team meetings (MDT) per week, in addition to the heavy diagnostic biopsy/cytology reporting. To me this seems unacceptable and overburdensome. Pathologists are finding that other than MDT preparation, MDT attendance, and heavy biopsy reporting while teaching and training the next generation of pathologists, there is little time to do anything else. Academic reading time is minimal/non-existent, and contemplation time is limited to the few moments that comprise lunch: It's like an understaffed conveyor belt. Of course, secretarial typing pools are also constantly in a state of searching for MDT slides while shouldering their other usual duties.
I was struck by the way departments were stretched to their limits, and how the diligence and teamwork of doctors, biomedical scientists, and all other departmental staff was keeping them above water. I am concerned, however, about the additional pressures that are likely to accompany the increase/resumption of routine surgery and surgical biopsy load following the full lifting of lockdown.
I am told that there are many histopathology departments nationwide which are similarly overstretched. What can we do to mitigate these immense work pressures and arrive at a work-life balance that is truly healthy and fulfilling?
Sincerely,
Dr. Naseem Ansari, MD, FRCPath
Competing interests: No competing interests