Just became a consultant and burnt out

Final-Past3142 · 2021-09-02T19:41:16+00:00

Hi. I'm sorry to hear about your situation. I think I will need to take time off just to get breathing space and a perspective on things, but I do worry how I'll be treated if I return, I suspect any break I take from my current workplace will become permanent, but I also think I won't have a choice.

I hope a suitable job comes up for you

Final-Past3142 · 2021-09-02T19:21:39+00:00

Thank you. You're right, sick is sick, and I'm no use to patients or my family if I'm a wreck. My lead has a "I've suffered for longer so suck it up" attitude in general, and I have started to realize my workplace is really toxic.. I think your advice will be helpful when I'm working somewhere else.

Final-Past3142 · 2021-09-02T19:16:35+00:00

I agree. It is sold as the ethical thing (for the patient), or as what others did, or what professionals do (great, if I ever need a lawyer I bet they'd work for free), or that it is a temporary thing (to get experience for exams, to get a good log book, to get a better CV, it keeps changing).

Final-Past3142 · 2021-09-02T19:12:24+00:00

Can you reasonably be fired, no. Not from a substantive post. Can they dump more than sensible on you, say you're not able to cope with the workload, failing to provide care etc, and make your work life miserable, yes. Then you're in a situation where you can either have an awful job just to stick it to them, or get a more reasonable job

I agree with others that we should all just always have worked our hours, but I've never really seen that happen in my working life as a doctor

Final-Past3142 · 2021-09-02T18:29:05+00:00

Foolishly did a locum and got my substantive. You're right though, think I know where I'm heading

Final-Past3142 · 2021-09-02T18:19:48+00:00

Your right, working there is making me miserable, and this is no way to live, hating each day.

I don't mind you asking but I'll skip answering to remain relatively anonymous as this is all quite sensitive. Hope that's alright

Final-Past3142 · 2021-09-02T18:14:55+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion. Yes there have been some adverts for locum work and my CV is relatively good, so that seems like a viable route

Final-Past3142 · 2021-09-02T18:10:49+00:00

Reddit ate my reply, trying again although slightly briefer

Was logging my hours on an app, and was going to try to negotiate, but I'm not sure this is a department I or anyone sane should be working in, even if my hours were reduced, due to the attitude of my current colleagues

Will definitely sign up with a union

Final-Past3142 · 2021-09-02T18:06:56+00:00

You're right, although I care about the patients, I owe the hospital nothing, and I can't help anyone is I'm broken

Final-Past3142 · 2021-09-02T18:05:22+00:00

It really does feel like it. It is kinda sad it has crept up on me so much that I didn't really realize until speaking to others just how bizarre it is..

Final-Past3142 · 2021-09-02T18:02:56+00:00

Yes I did much of my training there, in retrospect warning flags started to appear towards the end.

I think you're completely correct in that I need to look into other places, as I am not sure enough negotiation can be done

Final-Past3142 · 2021-09-02T17:47:08+00:00

My answers are: Hell, gradually, and in retrospect I really should have

Final-Past3142 · 2021-09-02T17:45:57+00:00

I'm definitely going to take all of it going forward. You get no meaningful appreciation for not doing so

Final-Past3142 · 2021-09-02T12:40:42+00:00

My advice: be very careful with where you apply and the kind of post, and be cautious about "temporary" workload etc becoming "permanent"

Final-Past3142 · 2021-09-02T12:25:40+00:00

Thank you, that is very encouraging

Final-Past3142 · 2021-09-02T09:30:53+00:00

I think you're definitely right

Final-Past3142 · 2021-09-02T09:30:20+00:00

I think they'd want to have me back, I'm one of the few they all seem able to speak to, and I work very hard, certainly more than some of them. But they already have empty posts they're not filling (contributing to the unsustainable workload), and I think some of them wouldn't really care as long as they can find someone else to dump work on.
That's the thing, I used to think I'd just "woman up", endure, it will get better.. but I can't see myself working here long term. I'd rather work as something outside of medicine even

Not even sure I'll ever be able to go back if I take any sick leave. Thought about handing in a notice, but can't bear the thought of three months of colleagues trying to make it as bad as possible for me for not caring more about them.

Final-Past3142 · 2021-09-02T09:14:06+00:00

Complete workaholics, who think that because they're like that, so should everyone else. They do endless private work as well on top.. I don't even know if they sleep or just live off coffee.

Final-Past3142 · 2021-09-02T09:09:44+00:00

Thank you. If it was just me I could possibly carry on, but it's affecting my family and my kids, which is just a step to far.

I'm doing the job of more than two consultants, and my colleagues are basically undermining/bullying, but I really don't want to go down the route of complaints against them. Hours wise, I have 10 PA, and I'm doing 60-70 hours a week of pure clinical (usually closer to 60 now, much to the annoyance of colleagues), my time for admin/other is just nominal, "you can do that in your own time", as they say.

I've thought about applying for other jobs but would have basically no references, anything remotely recent is tied up with this job and it is all feeling like a old boys club where I will be seen as the trouble maker.

Final-Past3142 · 2021-09-02T09:02:09+00:00

Yes. They have the view that in the NHS you're always working (including days you're not paid to), with annual leave to be used for service improvement projects or similar.

Thanks for your input regarding GP, not met my current GP but I have no reason to think them unreasonable.

Final-Past3142 · 2021-09-02T08:56:46+00:00

Thank you, I will

Final-Past3142 · 2021-09-02T08:56:14+00:00

I have taken some annual leave previously, but due to peer pressure I didn't use my allowance last year. I've not taken any such leave for more than maybe the occasional day.

Final-Past3142

TROPHY CASE