Project title
Reducing burnout and supporting the wellbeing of resident doctors in the NHS
Country
UK
Background
Resident doctors play a vital role in the NHS but face high levels of burnout, moral injury, and emotional exhaustion. These pressures are amplified by long working hours, complex team dynamics, and the emotional toll of frontline care.
The consequences are significant, affecting not only clinician wellbeing, but also patient safety, staff retention, and the overall resilience of healthcare systems. Building on the RCP’s previous NHS England-funded Wellbeing Fellowship Programme, this research aims to provide robust evidence on what truly works to support doctors’ wellbeing.
Summary
This national research fellowship will evaluate, refine, and scale effective interventions that reduce burnout among resident doctors in the NHS.
The study will use a mixed methods approach, combining surveys, interviews, and focus groups with clinical staff and wellbeing leads, to identify key drivers of wellbeing and organisational culture. It will test the impact of structured peer support, reflective practice, and leadership engagement models across diverse NHS settings.
The project will also develop practical recommendations and tools for embedding wellbeing into everyday clinical environments, ensuring findings are directly translatable into action.
Outcome
The study aims to:
- Generate high-quality, evidence-based insights into factors that reduce burnout and improve wellbeing among resident doctors.
- Produce a national framework of best practice that can be adopted by NHS Trusts and postgraduate medical education bodies.
- Build capacity among doctors for self-reflection, peer support, and sustainable coping strategies.
- Inform national policy and workforce strategy, shaping future NHS and RCP wellbeing programmes.
Ultimately, this project seeks to improve both clinician wellbeing and patient care by fostering a healthier, more compassionate healthcare culture.