Two-thirds of doctors frequently burnt out – survey

Almost two thirds of doctors say they are frequently burnt out and exhausted, with one-in-five describing their mental wellbeing as ‘of concern’, according to a new survey.

In a poll of 548 physicians, 60 per cent also said the Government does not do enough to ensure mental health services for their profession are properly funded.

The survey, carried out by the Medical Protection Society (MPS) in October, also found that more than half (53 per cent) feel disillusioned/disengaged at work, while 57 per cent said that they are not encouraged to discuss mental wellbeing issues in the workplace.

Comments recorded as part of the research highlight the struggles doctors are facing. One respondent said: “No one truly understands the internal struggles individuals face, both physically and mentally. Colleagues, management, patients, and even family members often cannot see what you’re going through.

“Medical practice in Ireland is evolving, with increasing patient loads, more complex cases, shifting demographics, more demanding patients, unrealistic key performance indicators, limited resources, and a more litigious environment, all of which contribute to the mental burden on healthcare professionals.”

Another anonymous participant commented: “Chronic under resourcing of team, constant fear of being blamed along with unrealistic patient, family, other service expectations has resulted in me feeling high levels of stress and frustration on daily basis. Feel like I’m shouting into a vacuum.”

Doctors also said they felt ‘burnt out from constantly working in fire-fighting mode’ while another said they were planning to reduce the number of hours they worked ‘to protect my mental health’.

Publishing the findings, MPS called on the new Government to act fast to address deteriorating levels of mental health among clinicians.

MPS council member Prof Gozie Offiah said: “We see firsthand how poor mental wellbeing affects doctors personally, and how it can impact on patient care. Without early support, mental wellbeing issues can also result in doctors needing extended time off work or leaving the healthcare profession altogether.

“We hope the new Government will work with the HSE and private healthcare providers to ensure healthcare professionals are in supportive environments with resources such as counselling, peer support networks and specialist support available as standard. This would help to tackle issues early on, avert crises down the line, and ultimately enable healthcare professionals to continue to care for patients safely.

She added: “Independent mental wellbeing services, such as the Practitioner Health Matters Programme, are also vital and can provide a lifeline for many who are struggling to cope, but they often rely on donations. The Government should help to ensure they are properly funded and safeguarded, so healthcare professionals are always able to access confidential, specialist help outside of their place of work, without fear of repercussions from their employers.”