As we emerge from the Covid pandemic, there is talk of returning to new normality. However, everyone who works in general practice knows that this is not normal as we once knew it. General practice has changed so much and is busier than ever. Some patients may have saved up all their medical concerns for the end of Covid; other patients may have chronic conditions that require prompt review; there may even be patients who still don’t feel confident leaving their homes and attending the practice. Frustrations can run high at times, with the lost years we are all trying to make up for. It may feel like there are never enough appointments, no matter how many are offered at the start of the day. A blend of telephone and face-to-face appointments may be preferable to patients, but there is no doubt that telephone appointments require a lot of skill and can take vital energy and concentration from the GP concerned.
Add in political change, energy prices, cost of living and war, and it is not surprising that burnout levels in doctors are high.
Recent figures from the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) highlight the potential loss of significant numbers of GPs in the next five years, “unless steps are taken to tackle intense workload and workforce pressures”. Of those GPs surveyed, reasons for potentially leaving the profession included stress, working hours, and lack of job satisfaction.
