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Two-thirds of medical professionals ‘would not recommend medicine to their children’

Around 67% of medical professionals would not encourage their children to pursue a career in the medical field, a Royal Medical Benevolent Fund (RMBF) survey of 1,845 doctors has found.

The survey also found that 92% of respondents – made up of GPs and consultants – think that working conditions in UK hospitals have deteriorated in the past decade.

The RMBF warns there is still a stigma among doctors around asking for help.

Its survey also found:

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  • 75% said that doctors seeking for help for stress and mental health issues receive no sympathy from their peers
  • 56% believe that doctors’ ‘personality type’ makes them more resilient when working under pressure
  • 93% of them attribute this to the existence of a ‘bravado culture’, which places value in the ability to work for long hours
  • 91% say the current issues within the NHS are detrimental to recruitment.

RMBF’s chief executive Steve Crone said: ‘Doctors work tirelessly to support us all in our times of need. Yet many feel unable to ask for help when things aren’t going well for them, either personally or professionally.

The RMBF has launched a campaign, Together for Doctors, to encourage doctors to seek help and highlight the necessity to offer support to burnt out medical staff.

‘The Royal Medical Benevolent Fund is here to offer confidential support and advice, so I really would urge anyone who needs help to come forward,’ said Mr Crone.

Pulse has previously reported that one in nine GPs turns to alcohol because of greater working pressures and that one out of 10 has taken some time off in the past 12 months.