I’m a doctor working in a private hospital. People tend to have a perception about private hospital doctors (non consultants) and the work we do (less busy, cushier etc). To a certain degree, its definitely easier than a public hospital and you get paid more but paid more to deal with more shit.

For example, in a public setting each specialty has a list of 30-40 or more patients divided by a team of 5-7 doctors (of different levels) and if the list is longer then there could be 2 teams under 2 consultants. In my hospital, the general medical list has minimum 30 patients under 3 doctors during the day. I’ve worked weeks when we’ve had 60 patients and less doctors on board. Because its private, obviously our patient demographic are those with $$$ and they come with expectations AND since our hospital’s most used campaign slogan that its “a consultant led hospital” meaning your care comes directly UNDER a consultant - but then me, as the NCHD (non consultant hospital doctor) on the ward apologizing to my patients who were throwing a fit for not seeing the consultant for days when i know the consultant doesnt give 2 shits except the money he’s making. We have general ward doctors too but our management has been squeezing out and cutting down shifts so theres less and less doctors working on the ward but the job scope is expanding to cover more roles/work.

Out of the 7 of us on the general medical team only me and another guy do full time shifts so we’re in most of thr days meaning whenever shit hits the fan or people are down sick/locums dont show up - then we take the brunt of it. I feel like as the youngest and most junior member of the team, i’ve bent over backwards to help every colleague, nursing staff, admin, patient that im with. I’ll take care of the 19 patients on my ward myself (doing everything from paperwork to blood taking to reviews to family talks to updates to sorting out lab results/calls etc) and still do the 3-4 admissions in ED and still talk to families on behalf of my consultant, still drop everything to round with the consultants who show up at any time and want me there on the floor with them and still help cover the ward docs as needed who are busy elsewhere and the nurses need help asap.

If it wasn’t for the money, i’d quit because the pressure and stress is insane. I hate dreaming of work at night, of being on the wards. I’ve been repeatedly sick.

Not to mention my relationship is tricky.. i just cant go into detail as i promised my bf i wouldnt talk about this in reddit.

I feel like because i’ve coped and kept going and helping and pleasing everyone at work then coming home and catering to my boyfriend, including not talking about work to him, then i GET SICK physically, i feel so much slack from everyone. That when im not able to pull myself apart for everyone, i’m the one who hasn’t been able to cope/stand strong/keep up the good work. Ffs i’ve been working hard for months-weeks?

Fuck you if you think i should have just braced the heavy workload and put everyone else first. I’ve done that my whole life.

One colleague didnt bother to write “get better soon” as others did because she is probs pissed that i took a sick day last minute.