Most GPs fear the impact of heavy workload on patient care this winter, a new RCGP Scotland poll shows.
Some 73% of GPs responding to the College’s annual survey admitted to fears that high workloads would affect their ability to provide care for patients in the coming months.
The survey also shows that 38% think it’s likely they will leave the profession over the next five years. Some 70% of GPs who responded reported working longer than they are contracted for.
Dr Richard Fieldhouse, chair of NASGP, said: “These data suggest that most GPs are fearing that general practice is approaching breaking point
“As GPs we all understand the risks of burnout, and how insidious it is, and how it can affect any of us at any time.
“And we understand the importance of recognising the signs before it happens. From our own LocumDeck data, we can see that bookings have increased fourfold compared to this time last year, suggesting many of our members are already working at full capacity.
“For some, our chambers are already helping to provide peer support and help many locums to keep control of their work life balance and offering other career opportunities; for those who aren’t part of a peer support group, we have some details here which may be of help.”
Feeling burned out?
The BMA Wellbeing Service (0330 123 1245, 24-7) is a free confidential telephone counselling service for peer support specifically for doctors and medical students. GPs also can turn to the Practitioner Health Programme (0300 0303 300, 8am-8pm Monday-Friday, 8am-2pm Saturday) for support – it’s a free, confidential service for doctors and dentists, in particular for those concerned that stress may be affecting their work. And DocHealth is a confidential, not for profit, psychotherapeutic consultation service for all doctors.