Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the workload and do you ever worry that the amount of work will affect your ability to make the correct decisions about a patients care or diagnosis?

Question: Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the workload and do you ever worry that the amount of work will affect your ability to make the correct decisions about a patients care or diagnosis?
- Keywords:
  care,
  decision,
  diagnosis,
  workload
Asked by Maisie to Simon, Shehla, Katharine, Jonathan, Emma, Chris on 19 Jun 2017.
- Emma Rowe answered on 19 Jun 2017:
  
  There are some days when it feels overwhelming. I try to remember that I can only see one patient at a time and deal with one problem at a time. If I break it down and simplify it, then it’s a lot easier for me. I’m a pretty good time keeper so that helps me to keep in control of busy situations.
  It doesn’t always go right and some days, I have a big slice of pizza when I get home!
- Katharine Bradbury answered on 19 Jun 2017:
  
  Yes sometimes and I think most people working in the health service do at some point. It’s important to recognise the feeling of being overwhelmed as it can, as you suggest, impact on the ability to make good clinical decisions. As a GP I have a lot more control over my work pattern than if I worked in the hospital. I do not have to work nights or weekends although I choose to do some Saturday morning surgeries. I can also access the computer system from home so am able to catch up if I’ve had a particularly busy day.
- Christopher Symonds answered on 20 Jun 2017:
  
  Yes it can be very overwhelming, especially for the clinicians who are seeing more and more patients each year due to the increasing workload. Staying calm and professional is what gets them through these intense periods.
- Jonathan Harte answered on 20 Jun 2017:
  
  I do sometimes. (I think everyone can do in most lines of work).
  I do worry about making a mistake sometimes – I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t. What I try to do is take each case on its merits. communicate with patients as well as possible. and be honest about the constraints of the system as it currently stands.

Question: Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the workload and do you ever worry that the amount of work will affect your ability to make the correct decisions about a patients care or diagnosis?

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