1 in 4 GPs know of a colleague who took own life

Medics reveal toll of workload stress

A SHOCKING poll has found a quarter of Scotland’s GPs know a colleague who took their own life.

We told yesterday how 86 per cent of family doctors who responded to a survey said they had experienced anxiety, depression or stress because of their job in the past year.

The survey by the Rebuild General Practice campaign warns of excessive workloads, abuse and a crisis in mental health.

Today, further results from the survey of Scots GPs show 29 per cent knew a colleague who had chosen to end their own life.

The poll also revealed almost nine in 10 GPs had experienced mental abuse at work.

One third of general practices in Scotland reported they had lost staff in the past five years because of unmanageable workloads.

And 31 per cent say GPs have left due to mental health issues or burnout. Other findings include: ● Only 11 per cent of GPs in Scotland believe their practice is safe for patients at all times. ● 68 per cent believe the risk to patient safety is increasing. ● 65 per cent do not have adequate time with each patient to provide a thorough diagnosis.

The survey carried out last month found on average Scottish GPs are seeing 28 patients a day – three above the safety limit.

But as Midlothian GP Dr Amy Small told the Daily Record this week, GPs sometimes see up to double that number.

She voiced fears that patients lives were at risk due to the number of overworked doctors suffering mental health issues. Ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week, GPs from across Britain speak out in an emotive video begging the UK’s governments to recruit local doctors.

As part of the Rebuild General Practice campaign, one says: “I’m worried about my patients. There aren’t enough of us to see every patient for long enough.

“There are millions of appointments being made but fewer of us to take them. And patients are suffering.

“We fear for your safety and for our own mental health. What do we do?

“We must Rebuild General Practice together to ensure patients receive the best care and reduce the current backlog of appointments.

“How? More staff, more resources and less bureaucracy because we all want the same thing – to give and receive the best healthcare.”

Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: “This needs to be treated as an urgent wake-up call for the Scottish Government.

“The Government must urgently put support in place.”

Lib Dem leader Alex ColeHamilton said: “These figures show the devastating human cost of the workforce problem in primary care.”

The Scottish Government says it is committed to increasing the number of GPs by 800 by 2027.

A spokesperson added: “Government, and our partners, must take all the actions it can to reduce the number of people who die by suicide.”