Almost a third of doctors have considered leaving the medical profession due to relentless pressure at work, with serious consequences for their health, wellbeing and patient safety, a survey by the Medical Defence Union (MDU) has revealed.
New figures show persistent staff shortages and rising patient expectations are the key drivers behind more than eight in ten doctors experiencing high stress levels. Half of doctors report poor mental or physical health, and the same number say workplace pressures increase their risk of making mistakes at work.
Extreme tiredness remains a concern for doctors, with more than one in three saying they are regularly sleep deprived and ten percent reporting a ‘near miss’, where tiredness played a part. Struggling to switch off after the shift ends and not being able to take a break due to high patient demand were cited as the main causes of tiredness.
Responding to the survey, one Consultant said: “We do 24-hour shifts on Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in the weekday and 48 hours at weekends. Most of that time we are resident and there is no access to any on call facilities. The Trust provide us with a chair on the unit in front of patients to sleep on. We use the PICU toilet to brush our teeth on these 2-day shifts and there is no access to a shower.”
Six in ten doctors say they aren’t confident that workplace pressures will improve over the next year, almost half have considered reducing working hours and one in five are actively looking to work abroad.
Dr Udvitha Nandasoma, Head of Advisory Services at the MDU said: “These findings paint a stark picture of a healthcare workforce continually being pushed to the limit. Doctors want to provide the best possible care for their patients, but unsustainable pressure, understaffed services and increasing workloads are leaving them exhausted and demoralised.
“Doctors are used to making high stakes decisions every day, but doing that under pressure, without enough sleep or support is not only draining for medical professionals but can have grave consequences for patient safety.
“It’s no surprise that many doctors tell us they are considering leaving the profession altogether, but we can’t afford to lose skilled and dedicated professionals in this way. This should act as a wakeup call to Government and healthcare leaders to prioritise support for doctors, which will improve both retention of healthcare staff and patient safety.”
The MDU is calling for NHS employers to ensure that staff catering and rest facilities are provided for staff, including for those working out of hours. They are also calling for an ongoing commitment to continue funding for programmes and services that support doctors and dentists at risk of burnout such as NHS Practitioner Health or Staff Treatment Hubs.
Dr Martin Brunet, a GP specialising in anxiety and burnout said: “Working in healthcare can take a heavy emotional and physical toll on doctors and too often, our own health and wellbeing comes last. While we can’t always control the wider systemic pressures, there are some simple, practical steps that can make a difference. Prioritising the need to take regular breaks, ensuring doctors can eat and drink properly during shifts and protecting time to connect with colleagues must be non-negotiables if we are to truly safeguard our health workforce.”
Martin’s advice includes steps such as:
- Stay connected - spend time with your team to remind yourself you’re not alone.
- Take breaks - ensure you take adequate breaks and stay nourished and hydrated.
- Leave work at work - prioritise time to rest and recharge outside of work.
See more about MDU's calls to support the workforce in the Agenda for Change policy paper
