The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is alarmed at the number of doctors struggling with their workloads as revealed by the GMC.
Prof. Rowan Parks, the College President, commented:
These are worrying statistics. A third of doctors are working beyond their rotas and feel unable to cope, almost a quarter have taken a leave of absence linked to stress and one in five are actively reducing their hours to protect their mental health.
This paints a picture of a workforce that is stretched far too thin. Doctors who are exhausted and stressed will struggle to provide the level of care and support they would ordinarily be able to. Pushing them to do even more risks burning them out, seeing people move abroad, be forced to take time off sick or leave the profession altogether.
We must protect our workforce, and that means protecting the mental health of doctors. Long-term increasing the workforce and reducing demand with preventative care can make a material difference, but action needs to be taken now to support clinicians in the workplace. The provision of protected rest rooms, round the clock availability of hot food and drinks, free car parking spaces and managers being actively seen to support people’s efforts to maintain a work-life balance are all vital.
- RCSEd was first incorporated as the Barber Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1505 and is based in Edinburgh and Birmingham.
- It is one of the oldest surgical corporations in the world with a global membership of more than 32,000, including 15,000 members in the UK.
- The College also has a significant worldwide presence with members in over 140 countries.
- The College promotes the highest standards of surgical and dental practice through education, training and examinations, its liaison with external medical bodies and representation of the modern surgical and dental workforce.
- The College has six faculties: The Faculty of Dental Surgery, The Faculty of Surgical Trainers, The Faculty of Dental Trainers, The Faculty of Perioperative Care, The Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care and The Faculty of Remote, Rural and Humanitarian Healthcare.
- It is also home to the UK’s only Faculty of Surgical Trainers, open to all those with an interest in surgical training regardless of College affiliation.
- Find RCSEd at www.rcsed.ac.uk, on X (formerly known as Twitter), on Facebook, and Instagram.
For further information, please contact comms@rcsed.ac.uk.