7 in 10 GP trainees already suffering with burnout

Nearly 73% of GP trainees are experiencing burnout and stress as ‘a direct result’ of their clinical work, a new BMA survey has found.

The union warned that GP trainees are facing ‘increased levels of burnout’ and ‘are worried’ about their career prospects, following the results of a poll of almost 3,200 GP registrars across the UK.

It found that nearly three quarters (72.9%) said they are experiencing burnout and stress as ‘a direct result of their clinical posting’, with over two thirds (66.4%) working outside of their scheduled hours ‘most or every day’.

Only 7.7% said they intend to work nine sessions or more – described as ‘full-time’ – after CCT, with just less than 20% stating that they feel ‘confident’ of their future as a GP working in the UK

The survey also found that almost 90% of respondents are ‘concerned’ about the planned expansion of physician associates (PAs), and almost 65% said they have ‘felt uncomfortable’ when asked to prescribe medication on behalf of a PA.

The majority of GP registrars are also concerned about the financial pressure of studying to become a GP, specifically regarding exam costs, with almost all respondents saying the cost of two of the mandatory examinations were ‘unaffordable’.

GP registrars committee chair Dr Malinga Ratwatte said the survey results ‘paint an unfortunately sad picture’ about the future of general practice.  

He added: ‘They might be shocking, but the revelations come as no surprise given the way we’re seeing our profession dismantled at the moment, with no credible solutions being implemented.

‘With inadequate funding, worsening conditions and an ever-growing workload on the back of an exodus of doctors in full-time NHS work, it is no wonder that so many GP registrars are already stretched beyond their limits so early into their careers, and are understandably concerned for their future prospects.’

He said that GP partners are doing everything they can to keep their practices open and support registrars in their posts, but are in desperate need of financial support.

‘It is essential that the Government acts quickly to address the shameful levels of pressure, caused by poor investment strategies, into a stricken medical workforce,’ he added.

A Pulse investigation into the GP workforce last year found that burnout, stress and unachievable demands are pushing GP trainees out of the profession, with the biggest and most worrying haemorrhage involving fully trained GPs at the height of their careers. 

Recently the BMA has demanded financial compensation for GP trainees who had difficulties completing a new component of the MRCGP exam.