Hobbies, mindfulness and exercise are a must if doctors are to keep well and provide the best possible care to their patients, according to a new wellbeing charter endorsed by four specialist medical colleges.

The wellbeing charter has been developed by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM), RANZCOG, the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and endorsed by the Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges.

It aims to underline the importance of doctors’ mental and physical health to the profession, workplaces and governments.

“Maintaining wellbeing leads to the performance of high quality and effective health care delivery and optimises patient care,” it states.