BMJ - Covid-19: Doctors’ wellbeing must be “critical priority” after pandemic mistakes, says BMA (23 May 2022)

Summary

In this article for The BMJ, Matthew Limb looks at the findings of the British Medical Association's (BMA's) review of the UK's management of the pandemic. The review found that many doctors had traumatic experiences during the pandemic, and highlights the following areas where the government could have better supported doctors:

• Preparedness including chronic underfunding of the NHS
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages
• Inadequate infection prevention and control guidance
• Testing failures
• Lack of risk assessment and failure to protect vulnerable staff
• Deaths
• Long Covid
• Exhaustion
• Mental health and emotional wellbeing
• Anxiety and moral injury
• Isolation
• Lack of support
• Career prospects

The review did also highlight the vaccination campaign and rollout as a notable success in the government's response to the pandemic.