Mental health and general practice: who is looking after doctors?

 As part of Mental Health Awareness Week (11-17 May), the Medical Protection Society (MPS) is calling for more support and awareness of mental health issues among GPs.¹

MPS is urging employers and colleagues of GPs to look out for signs of mental illness among GPs and to offer them support. While organisations such as the NHS, with their Practitioner Health Programme, seek to provide psychological support to doctors, more support is required, such as colleagues offering moral support or talking through issues.

The demands of modern day general practice are incredibly difficult. Rising patient expectations, limited resources and increasing litigation can all have a negative impact on the mental wellbeing of GPs.

An MPS survey of 600 GPs earlier this year showed that, of those who had received a clinical negligence claim, 89% believed it had an impact on their stress and anxiety levels.²  MPS offers members a confidential counselling service to help them deal with the stress of facing a claim or complaint, and support when going through a disciplinary or other proceeding.³

Similarly, a British Medical Association (BMA) survey last month of 15,560 UK GPs showed that more than two-thirds of GPs (68%) stated that while manageable, they experienced a significant amount of work-related stress with one in six (16%) feeling their stress was significant and unmanageable.⁴

Dr Pallavi Bradshaw, Medicolegal Adviser at the Medical Protection Society said:

"The first person a lot of people turn to when they are dealing with stress is their family doctor – but what support is available for GPs when they are dealing with stress at work?

"It is not surprising that many doctors experience mental health issues during their careers. GPs may be particularly at risk as they often work in relative isolation. In our experience, GPs may also be reluctant to seek help from a fellow practitioner for fear of being perceived as unable to cope, and it can be difficult to take on the patient role.

"Our research shows that working in an increasingly litigious environment impacts on GPs’ stress and anxiety levels, with 67% of GPs fearful that they will be sued by patients. Of those, 85% of those who are fearful of being sued believed that fear impacts on the way they practice.

"We encourage any doctor feeling stressed or depressed to seek help from their own GP. If doctors are feeling worried as a result of receiving a claim or complaint, MPS offers a counselling service to members. Talking through issues can be a valuable tool in helping to combat the negative impact of working in a high pressure environment, such as general practice.

"Doctors have a professional obligation to consider the impact their or a colleagues health could has on the care they provide to patients".

For further information please contact Rajiv Pattni, Press Officer at MPS on +44 (0) 207 399 1409 or email [email protected]  

Notes to editors

1. http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/mentalhealthawarenessweek/
2. MPS conducted a survey of GP members to find out about their experience and  awareness of claims for clinical negligence and how it had impacted on them.
   The survey ran from 3 February 2015 to 10 February 2015 and received 600 responses
3. For more information about the MPS counselling service, please contact us at  [email protected]
4. http://bma.org.uk/news-views-analysis/news/2015/april/health-service-faces-gps-exodus