BEING A DOC IS BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH
77 per cent of medics say that work harms their wellbeing
THE British Medical Association in Scotland has called for doctors to receive more support from Government after workloads and their impact on the health of medics were criticised in a survey.
The study found that 77 per cent of the 800 respondents said their work had harmed their health.
About 23 per cent of those asked sought help for the effects to their health. BMA Scotland chairman Dr Lewis Morrison said the findings showed “NHS Scotland needs to be a better place to work”.
The study showed that 83 per cent of those who responded saw their workload increase, as well as a further 80 per cent who “often or always” work beyond their time.
The union leader called on the Scottish Government to work with NHS boards across the country to improve conditions for medics. Morrison said: “Worryingly, our survey also found that two-thirds of doctors do not believe their employer provides sufficient support for staff wellbeing.
“It is clear that caring for those who care for the people of Scotland must now be a priority.
“That is why we are asking the Scottish Government and NHS boards to work together to provide improved, effective and accessible support services for staff in both general practice and hospitalbased care, who are working in such high-pressure environments.
“We are encouraged that the Cabinet Secretary has made positive announcements on this – in particular proposals for a specific health service for doctors in Scotland mirroring that which has been shown to work elsewhere in the UK.”
The Scottish Government said: “The welfare of our hard-working doctors is paramount and we are committed to improving their working lives by taking action on issues that are important to them like pay, terms and conditions.
“We work closely with BMA Scotland to identify and implement changes all doctors want to see.
“Our independent expert group, established to make recommendations on further improvements, is due to report back by the end of the year and the Health Secretary will fully consider the recommendations.
Scottish Tory health spokesman Miles Briggs described the findings as a “stark reminder” of the pressures faced by medics.