Balancing workload and wellbeing

The Health Foundation cites “good work” as one determinant of a healthy life. According to the World Health Organisation: “A healthy job is likely to be one where the pressures on employees are appropriate in relation to their abilities and resources, to the amount of control they have over their work, and to the support they receive from people who matter to them.”

Pharmacists, like other healthcare professionals, enter a career in order to care for patients. Internationally, nurses, doctors, teachers and pharmacists are reporting issues affecting wellbeing and wellness at work. Closer to home, recent work from Pharmacist Support in association with Tipi Research reveal some worrying statistics reported by participating pharmacists;

• 61 per cent need support with stress at work
• 59 per cent need support with work life balance
• 47 per cent need support managing their wellbeing
• 76 per cent of community pharmacists identified mental health as a key issue with 68 per cent agreeing that isolation was a key factor.

Everyone has an optimum level of pressure that contributes to their peak performance. However, workplace stress occurs when this pressure becomes excessive. Equipment and machinery need continuous maintenance to manage their workload, without care the system breaks down. So what about people?