Majority of GPs suffer from “stress, anxiety or depression”
Campaign group call for more support warning of a “workforce emergency”
Survey by the campaign group Rebuild General Practice found the majority of GPs suffer from ‘stress, anxiety or depression’. The group has called for more action to support burned out GPs.
The campaign group has warned of a “workforce emergency” with a significant number of GPs feeling the strain.
The group surveyed 1,400 British GPs and found 51% have seen staff leave their surgery over the last five years due to “unmanageable workloads”. In addition, the survey found 48% said colleagues have the profession due mental health issues or burnout. Furthermore, 84% said they have felt anxiety, stress or depression in the last year.
The campaign group is calling on the Government to do more to recruit and retain doctors in general practice.
Dr Rachel Ward, from the Rebuild General Practice campaign, said: "This is a crisis for GPs and an emergency for patients.
"Years of underfunding and neglect has severely damaged general practice, leaving us with a skeleton staff across Great Britain and no plan for filling the gaps, meanwhile patient appointments are at an all-time high.
"As GPs we are trying to find solutions and we are crying out for help - for our patients but also as human beings who are simply trying to offer excellent care and look after our communities."