ABSTRACT
Wellbeing, defined as ‘a state of positive feelings and meeting full potential in the world' and burnout (the opposite of wellbeing) are increasingly being recognized as important factors in healthcare workforces. Junior doctors are subject to a high rate of burnout and as a result the numbers leaving the NHS continue to rise. The cause of this is multifactorial and reflects societal and political changes as well as demand on an already strained service. Key components include the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the financial turmoil of the cost-of-living crisis, the loss of team and social structure at work, and uncertainty around the future of the NHS. Addressing the contributory factors is an important challenge for coming years to maintain a healthy, motivated, and effective medical workforce.