Almost nine in 10 GPs and other practice staff find their work life stressful, according to a survey that raises concerns about their mental health.
The research, carried out for Mind, also found that one in 10 had had suicidal thoughts as a consequence of workplace stress, and a significant proportion feared the impact of disclosing their problem and/or resorted to unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Mind’s chief executive, Paul Farmer, said: “These figures paint a worrying picture, suggesting that levels of stress among primary care staff are having a real impact on both their mental and physical wellbeing.
“We need to make sure that healthcare professionals are well and supported, so they can provide the best care for their patients. It needs to be OK for primary care staff to talk about it. Like anyone else, they need and deserve support.”
Dods Research polled more than 1,000 NHS workers in primary care, including GPs, practice nurses and practice managers. Two in five said workplace stress has led them to resign or consider resigning, and one in three felt that admitting to being overly stressed would mean they were perceived as less capable than their colleagues.
GPs’ leaders said the results reflected unsustainable pressures, forcing staff to work long hours in the face of increasing patient demand and dwindling resources.
Full story in The Guardian 11 August 2016