Fewer GP trainers at 'high risk' of burnout, finds annual GMC survey

Fewer GP trainers are at ‘high risk’ of burnout, despite still responding more negatively than average for burnout-related questions, according to the GMC’s annual training survey.

The latest survey of over 70,000 doctor trainees and trainers found that the proportion of GP trainers at ‘high risk of burnout’ fell from 15% in 2024 to 11%, aligning it with the average across specialties (also 11%).

The 2025 results also found an 8 percentage point reduction in GP trainers who said they ‘always/often feel worn out at the end of the working day’.

However, the figure remained significantly higher than average, at 60% compared to 47% of secondary care trainers.

Despite the small improvements, Dr Pipin Singh, a GP trainer and training programme director in Newcastle, told Pulse it was ‘not surprising’ that trainers remained under pressure.

He said: ‘Training has become more complex as trainees are expected to do a lot more assessments throughout training requiring trainer input, but training has stayed the same length of time, and on top of this trainers also now supervise other healthcare professionals.

‘There are also the additional complexities of running the surgeries and the challenges that poses, particularly: funding has been stripped, higher bills, national insurance, and little support for expansion of properties.’

Meanwhile, GP trainees’ experiences with burnout reflected findings across all specialties.

A fifth (20%) remained ‘at high risk of burnout’ according to the survey, down 1 percentage point from last year.

While the proportion of all trainees at high risk of burnout (20%) fell 1 percentage point from 2024, the figure was still double pre-Covid pandemic levels. When adding trainees deemed to have ‘moderate’ risk of burnout, this increased to 61% of trainees.

However, GP trainees reported lower-than-average rates of experiencing discriminatory behaviour in their workplace:

12% of female GP trainees reported ‘insults, stereotyping or jokes’ about a protected characteristic, compared to a 28% average across specialties; and 8% of male GP trainees reported the same compared to 22% overall.

3% of female GP trainees experienced ‘unwanted sexual comments or advances’ compared to a 9% average for women across all specialties.

4% of female and 4% of male GP trainees said they were ‘intentionally humiliated in front of others’, compared to figures of 22% and 18% for surgery trainees.

In its 10-year plan for the NHS, published earlier this month, the Government said it would create 1,000 new specialty training posts and pledged to prioritise UK medical graduates and ‘doctors who have worked in the NHS for a significant period’ for specialty training.

But it added that the revised workforce plan for the NHS would include ‘fewer staff than projected’ by 2035 than the previous 2023 plan.

When the 2023 plan was published, Pulse analysis revealed general practice training capacity would need to double within five years, and increase threefold in ten years.

Other survey findings

General practice trainers responded more positively when asked about supportive environments. 97% of GP trainers agreed that ‘Staff are always treated fairly by my employer’ compared to 63% of secondary care trainers. 98% agreed ‘my employer/practice provides a supportive environment for everyone regardless of background, beliefs, or identity’ compared to 80% of secondary care trainers

Support from employer: GP trainers (87%) were the most positive across training specialties about support from their employer, compared to just 57% of surgery trainers