The GMC’s annual workforce report has found that high numbers of GPs are at risk of burnout, and 18% are considering leaving medicine entirely within the next year.
Commenting, Professor Dame Jane Dacre, President at the Medical Protection Society, said:
“This report echoes our own concerns about the increasing level of burnout in healthcare. It is perhaps one of the great paradoxes of our age, that modern medicine allows doctors to do more for their patients than ever before, yet increasing evidence shows that doctors feel burnt out and disillusioned in ever greater numbers.
“Doctors need to be supported so they stay in practice, rather than quit or move abroad. When doctors feel burnt out it is not only concerning for them but for the wider team and patients. We know that doctors who continue to work while unfit to do so are more likely to make mistakes.
“The healthcare community as whole must take urgent steps to improve the working environment and regain the sense of value that we get from being a doctor. Only with organisational level interventions can the wellbeing of doctors be safeguarded.”
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About Medical Protection
Medical Protection is a trading name of The Medical Protection Society Limited (“MPS”). MPS is the world’s leading protection organisation for doctors, dentists and healthcare professionals. We protect and support the professional interests of more than 300,000 members around the world. Membership provides access to expert advice and support and can also provide, depending on the type of membership required, the right to request indemnity for any complaints or claims arising from professional practice.
Our in-house experts assist with the wide range of legal and ethical problems that arise from professional practice. This can include clinical negligence claims, complaints, medical and dental council inquiries, legal and ethical dilemmas, disciplinary procedures, inquests and fatal accident inquiries.
Our philosophy is to support safe practice in medicine and dentistry by helping to avert problems in the first place. We do this by promoting risk management through our workshops, E-learning, clinical risk assessments, publications, conferences, lectures and presentations.
MPS is not an insurance company. All the benefits of membership of MPS are discretionary as set out in the Memorandum and Articles of Association.