BMA guidance

Safe working for hospital doctors

When services are understaffed, patient safety and your own health and wellbeing could be compromised. This toolkit outlines practical actions you can take to mitigate risk and ensure safety in a system under pressure.

Location: UK
Audience: Consultants SAS doctors Resident doctors International doctors
Updated: Wednesday 18 September 2024
Topics: Advice and support, Your wellbeing, Complaints and concerns
NHS pressures waiting list

What you'll get from this guide

  • Steps to take to protect yourself, your colleagues, and your patients
  • Documenting and raising concerns
  • Looking after yourself
  • What your employer should do
  • Resources and links

This toolkit applies across the UK. Where guidance relates to a specific nation, this is clearly stated.

 

Junior doctors have changed their title to ‘resident doctors’

As of 18 September, all references to junior doctors in BMA communications have been changed to ‘resident doctors’.

 

Making up nearly 25% of all doctors in the UK, this cohort will now have a title that better reflects their huge range of skills and responsibilities. 

 

Find out more about why junior doctors are now known as 'resident doctors'.