The COVID-19 pandemic has had profound consequences for junior doctors. At a foundation trust with 2 district general hospital sites, we initiated a multi-faceted programme of support for 390 junior doctors. This was led by the Chief Residents (CR) utilising senior management, clinical psychologists, mess committees and communications team. The programme was inclusive, with a focus on the Foundation Year 1 (FY1) cohort. Junior doctors are often the least experienced of the medical team;the second wave presented a unique challenge for FY1s- who had only ever practised within a pandemic. Weekly CR meetings were held and feedback sought pre- and post- intervention. Initiatives targeted four areas: information, support, social and achievement recognition. Interventions included: evening Junior Doctor COVID-19 updates;prioritisation of the annual Junior Doctor Awards (JDAs);once-weekly bitesize, non-urgent updates instead of anxiety-provoking multiple daily emails;FY1s’ support cafés, online mess events and enhanced support through evening sessions with clinical psychologists. COVID-19 evening updates were popular, with a peak of 84 attendees. Feedback was encouraging, indicating a demand for these to continue post-pandemic. The clinical psychologists were well-received with informal feedback praising the sessions. FY1s’ support cafés, unfortunately, were hampered by poor turnout during the day. The JDAs received a record number of nominations locally (over 200), and feedback indicated that doctors felt, for the first time in many months, valued and appreciated. Priorities now, are physician burnout and junior doctor attrition: innovative approaches are needed. To provide sensitive support, timing of opportunities must be carefully considered;junior doctors can rarely be released from clinical duties to attend events during working hours. Wellbeing support must be delivered alongside sufficient practical assistance otherwise interventions risk insincerity.
Navigating the Storm: Structuring and supporting junior doctor wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic