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Burnout in Healthcare: Why Looking After Your Wellbeing Matters More Than Ever
Written byClaire Penketh
Why We Chose to Support the Laura Hyde Foundation
I am incredibly proud to share that our team at Medacs Healthcare has raised more than £1,900 for the Laura Hyde Foundation. I wanted to explain why this charity means so much to us.
The Laura Hyde Foundation is a UK charity dedicated to providing mental health support for healthcare and emergency services workers. It was founded in late 2017 by Liam Barnes after his cousin, nurse Laura Hyde, tragically passed away from suicide on 4 August 2016. Laura was a naval nurse who combined her two passions, travel and caring for others. Her story is a powerful reminder that the people who care for us need caring for too.
Since launching, the Foundation has supported over 8,000 individuals and has representation in over 98% of UK hospitals. In 2024 alone, they were contacted 11,654 times, more than once every hour. Over half of those contacts, 6,199, involved suicidal thoughts. Nurses accounted for 3,833 contacts, medical students for 2,004, and midwives for 1,818. The number one reason people reached out was workload pressure.
The Foundation's work includes the REcharge Hub, a personalised wellbeing programme for healthcare staff experiencing burnout, the No Mask for Mental Health campaign, resilience training at over 32 medical focused universities, and co-chairing the Nurse and Midwife Suicide Prevention Group.
We chose to partner with them because their work directly supports the clinicians we work with every day. Every pound of the £1,900 we have raised will help more healthcare professionals access support when they need it.
The Scale of Burnout in Healthcare
The World Health Organisation now formally recognises burnout as an occupational phenomenon, caused by chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.
It presents as exhaustion, mental distance from work, and reduced professional effectiveness.
The Mental Health UK Burnout Report 2026 found that 91% of UK adults experienced high or extreme stress in the past year. One in five workers needed time off due to poor mental health caused by that stress. Among 18 to 24 year olds, that figure rises to almost two in five.
Healthcare is the most affected profession. A 2025 Psychreg study found that human health and social work topped the UK stress index with a score of 91.88 out of 100, that is 649% higher than the least stressful industry. The Personio Burnout Risk Index shows that with 5.1 million people employed in UK health and social care, over 2 million healthcare workers are at risk of burnout. Research also shows that 62% of healthcare clinicians report burnout, compared to 55% across the general workforce.
I see this every day. Long hours, emotional intensity, workforce shortages, and relentless demand create sustained pressure. For many clinicians, this is not an occasional bad week. It is ongoing, and it is not getting easier.
Much of this data is self-reported, but that does not diminish it. If anything, it highlights just how widespread the experience has become.
The Joyful Doctor Partnership
For more than three years, we've partnered with The Joyful Doctor to deliver practical, accessible wellbeing support for healthcare professionals, including tools and guidance to help individuals:
- Recognise early signs of burnout before they escalate
- Build resilience in high pressure environments
- Create healthier boundaries between work and personal life
- Prioritise recovery and self-care as part of a sustainable career
- Looking after the people who deliver care is just as important as the care itself.
This is not about stepping away from healthcare. It is about continuing the career you have worked so hard for in a way that works for you. Whether through locum roles, insourcing projects, or flexible working patterns, we help you build a career that supports your goals and your wellbeing.
Flexibility as Part of the Solution
Many healthcare professionals are asking what can actually change. In my experience, one of the most effective answers is helping people regain control over how and when they work.
Locum and flexible working opportunities with Medacs Healthcare, across the NHS and private sector, can offer:
- Greater control over working hours and shift patterns
- Meaningful breaks between assignments
- The chance to step away from high intensity environments when needed
- Different clinical settings to refresh motivation and perspective
- A personalised approach to building a career that is sustainable long term
This is not about stepping away from healthcare. It is about continuing the career you have worked so hard for in a way that works for you. Whether through locum roles, insourcing projects, or flexible working patterns, we help you build a career that supports your goals and your wellbeing.
Looking After Our Own Team Too
I want to be honest. When we talk about burnout, it would be easy to focus only on the healthcare professionals we place. But burnout does not only affect clinicians. It affects our recruitment consultants, compliance teams, marketing and operations colleagues too. Our team care about the people they support, and that emotional investment, combined with the pace of an ever-changing market, can also take its toll.
The Mental Health UK Burnout Report found that 35% of workers do not feel comfortable discussing stress with their manager. That statistic stays with me. If people in my team do not feel safe enough to say they are struggling, then I have not done my job as a leader.
Recognising the signals matters. Changes in energy, withdrawal from conversations, working longer hours without being asked to, these can all be signs someone is heading towards burnout. As leaders, we have a responsibility to notice, not wait for crisis point.
This is why we have invested in Mental Health First Aiders across our business. As part of MGG Health's commitment to wellbeing, we have a network of trained colleagues who provide a first point of contact for anyone experiencing mental health difficulties.
We have also established MGG Together, a volunteer council that meets regularly to ensure our values around equality, diversity, and inclusion are genuinely embedded in our culture and hiring practices. When people feel included and valued, they are far more likely to speak up when they need support, and that is fundamental to preventing burnout.
Leading by example means honest conversations in one to ones, checking in on how people are actually feeling, and making sure the wellbeing we champion externally is reflected internally. If we expect healthcare professionals to trust us with their careers, we need to show we take wellbeing seriously at every level, starting with our own people.
Creating More Sustainable Careers in Healthcare
Understanding the drivers of burnout is the first step. The next is action: building healthier, more supportive workplaces where healthcare professionals can thrive. Because ultimately, it is the difference we make together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is burnout in healthcare?
Burnout is an occupational phenomenon recognised by the World Health Organisation, caused by chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterised by exhaustion, increased mental distance from work, and reduced professional effectiveness. A 2025 UK study found that human health and social work topped the national stress index at 91.88 out of 100, making it the most at-risk profession in the country.
How common is burnout among healthcare workers in the UK?
Research shows that 62% of healthcare clinicians report burnout, and the Mental Health UK Burnout Report 2026 found that 91% of UK adults experienced high or extreme stress in the past year. One in five workers needed time off due to poor mental health caused by that stress. With over 5.1 million people employed in health and social care, more than 2 million healthcare workers are estimated to be at risk.
What is the Laura Hyde Foundation?
The Laura Hyde Foundation is a UK-based charity dedicated to providing mental health support for healthcare and emergency services workers. Founded in late 2017 after nurse Laura Hyde passed away from suicide, the charity has supported over 8,000 individuals and has representation in over 98% of UK hospitals. In 2024, they were contacted 11,654 times, more than once every hour. Medacs Healthcare has raised £1,900 for the Foundation because their work directly supports the clinicians we work with every day.
Can flexible working reduce healthcare burnout?
Yes. Flexible and locum working can help healthcare professionals regain control over their working patterns, take meaningful breaks between assignments, and build a more sustainable career. At Medacs Healthcare, we support doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals in finding flexible opportunities across the NHS and private sector.
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What support does Medacs Healthcare offer for wellbeing?
Through our partnership with The Joyful Doctor, we provide practical wellbeing tools and guidance to help healthcare professionals recognise early signs of burnout, build resilience, create healthier boundaries, and prioritise recovery and self-care. We have also raised £1,900 for the Laura Hyde Foundation to support clinician mental health. Internally, we invest in Mental Health First Aiders across the business and have established MGG Together, a volunteer council supporting equality, diversity, inclusion, and belonging across our teams.
