Emergency Medicine: let’s feed the good wolf

Emergency Medicine in the UK is under enormous pressure. Every member of the multidisciplinary team will be aware of the current climate within the National Health Service and have felt its effects in some capacity. Individuals, teams and departments are stretched to the limit dealing with increasing numbers of, and sicker, patients. Our patients are subjected to long waits on trolleys and waiting times have deteriorated as hospitals fill but our doors remain open. Missed targets and upsetting stories are frequently highlighted in the media. The cumulative effect on staff facing these challenges on a daily basis can be substantial, leading to high rates of burnout and compassion fatigue. This can, at times, create an overwhelmingly negative atmosphere. Patient safety is paramount during our current challenges, but we would like to discuss the importance of our own narrative and the choice we have in whether and how much we feed the bad wolf and the opportunity to feed the good wolf