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GPs in the UK experience the highest stress and have the lowest job satisfaction compared to other high-income countries and many are considering leaving the profession altogether, according to a new Health Foundation report.
The report analyses data from an international survey of 9,526 GPs in 10 high-income countries, including 1,010 in the UK and was carried out by the US-based foundation, the Commonwealth Fund.
It found that 71% of UK primary care doctors find their job ‘extremely’ or ‘very stressful’, the highest of the ten countries surveyed alongside Germany. Stress is up 11 percentage points since 2019.
They are among the least satisfied with practising medicine, with just 24% of UK GPs ‘extremely’ or ‘very’ satisfied. In addition, they are also among the least satisfied with their work-life balance, workload, and time spent with patients compared to other countries surveyed.
Half of GPs believe quality of care worsened since pandemic
The report also found that the majority of GPs in all countries are dealing with higher workloads than before the pandemic – and many have experienced greater stress and signs of emotional distress. UK GPs think patient care has suffered compared with before the pandemic, with half believing the quality of care they can provide has worsened and only 14% thinking it has improved.
The survey also illustrates some of the core strengths of general practice in the UK, including a high proportion of GPs feeling well-prepared to manage care for patients with long-term conditions and mental health needs. UK GPs are more confident in managing palliative care needs (96%) and dementia (95%) than in most other countries. The UK also performs well on online access to services, using electronic medical records, and use of data to inform care.
The experience of GPs in the UK should ring alarm bells for the government
Hugh Alderwick, Director of Policy at the Health Foundation said that the NHS is not the only health system under pressure, but the experience of GPs in the UK should ring alarm bells for government.
He added: “The pandemic has taken a heavy toll on UK GPs, combined with longer-run challenges including staff gaps and rising workload. Just a decade ago, UK GPs were among the most satisfied of any country in the survey, but now they are the least satisfied alongside GPs in France. GPs are stressed out and burnt out – and many are considering leaving their jobs.
“Decisive policy action is needed to improve the working lives of GPs – including to boost GP capacity, reduce workload, and make use of wider primary care staff. The government has promised that its much-delayed workforce plan for the NHS will be published shortly, but the promise of new doctors will be little good if the NHS cannot retain the ones it already has.”
GPs feel so over-stretched that they cannot guarantee safe patient care
The Royal College of GPs said that report reveals just what a sorry state of affairs GPs are facing, especially when compared to other high-income countries.
Professor Kamila Hawthorne, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, added: “It is alarming, but not at all surprising, that GPs in the UK are amongst the most stressed and over-stretched of the nations examined. This chimes with College research that has shown that two -thirds of GPs feel so over-stretched that they cannot guarantee safe patient care, and many cite workload and burn out as a reason they are considering leaving the profession.
“GPs and our teams want to deliver safe, appropriate and timely care for our patients, but with the intense workload and workforce pressures we are working under, this is becoming ever more difficult. GP teams have emerged from the pandemic exhausted, making more patient consultations than before it – an increase of 9% on 2019 – but with 843 fewer fully-qualified, full time equivalent GPs.
“Delivering high-quality, holistic care to an ageing population with more chronic illnesses also takes time, and this report shows that the UK ranks amongst the lowest in terms of time spent with patients – but spending more time with patients requires more GPs and it is very worrying that more qualified GPs are leaving the profession than entering it.”
She said that it not all bad news as the UK is further ahead than most other countries on some elements like practices offering online repeat prescriptions, and more GPs feel their practice is prepared with the right skills and experience to manage patients with dementia, chronic illnesses and for palliative care.