Doctors' Mess

The Covid pandemic created a time of crisis and unprecedented change for the NHS workforce. Caring for Carers plugged a much-needed gap to support our doctors, creating a virtual Doctors’ Mess as a confidential and safe space to offload, share and re-energise with peers. We are particularly proud to have provided much needed support for our international doctors, as well as a sense of belonging to those who felt isolated or marginalised. We are proud to have developed a model of kindness and compassion to encourage doctors to first nurture themselves to survive and thrive, and so reduce stress and burnout and aid retention. We are proud to have extended the model to other professional groups. Moving forward post-pandemic these stresses have not gone. But our groups are being replicated widely and we had always planned for it to be a model to grow and to contribute to system wide improvements in workplace cultures and environments across the NHS. There is now greater recognition in the NHS for the need to ensure the well-being of our workforce by creating workplaces with inclusive cultures grounded in cultural humility. Support has increased within the NHS and from other allied organisations including NHSE and the BMA, as well as other charities. Therefore, the Trustees are now formally closing the registered charity Caring for Carers. We want to take this opportunity to thank our volunteers, speakers and donors who have all given so generously. We want to thank our administrators, interns and book-keeper for keeping the show on the road through the pandemic. And a massive thank you to Rebecca Viney, our chair, whose expertise, energy, and vision has enabled this charity to empower so many people to achieve a sustainable, enriching work-life balance. Lastly, thank you to all those who joined us for the Doctors Mess, for sharing your experience and stories, the richness of the conversations and for respecting and supporting others.