Dr Richard Fieldhouse is joined by Dr Helen Garr, Medical Director of NHS Practitioner Health, for a candid conversation about the mental health of the GP workforce in 2026.
They discuss the unique pressures faced by sessional GPs and partners alike, moving beyond the standard “resilience” talk to address the reality of compassion fatigue and the “superhero” complex. Helen shares personal stories of her own career—including a wake-up call while working under a palm tree on holiday—and offers practical advice on how to build connection and psychological safety in a fragmented system.
Resources
- NHS Practitioner Health: https://www.practitionerhealth.nhs.uk/
- NASGP LocumDeck: https://www.nasgp.org.uk/
Key Quotes
- “We give, we give, we give, until we fall off that cliff and we crash. And often the point at which people recognise they need some help is when things have got really quite bad.”
- “There is no ‘not unwell enough’ to come to us. If you think things aren’t quite right, please do reach out.”
