New Ways of Working for Psychiatrists: the achievements and the challenges

The New Ways of Working national programme was started by psychiatrists (through the Royal College of Psychiatrists) when it became apparent that the roles they were being asked to carry out were unrealistic in their demands. This had contributed to a drop in recruitment and early retirement for psychiatrists in post. The New Ways of Working programme led to a reconfiguration of mental health services in many areas and an increase in the numbers of psychiatrists as well as improved levels of job satisfaction. This paper describes some of the challenges that still need to be met if New Ways of Working is to be fully implemented.