The Royal College of Physicians has responded to the GMC's report, The state of medical education and practice in the UK: workplace experiences 2023, which calls for urgent action to break the 'vicious cycle' of unmanageable workloads, dissatisfaction and burnout faced by doctors.
Dr Sarah Clarke, president of the Royal College of Physicians, said:
“The GMC’s report describes patient care suffering because our medical workforce is trapped in a vicious cycle. As doctors leave because of their unmanageable workload, more pressure heaps on their fellow clinicians. With every increase in workload, the chances of people getting the care they need reduces. This increases their chances of becoming more ill and needing more care.
“We know from our census published this week the significant pressures faced by physicians due to consultant shortages and the impact this has on patient care. We must have a long-term workforce plan published without delay and work to create environments where doctors can work flexibly, feel part of a supportive team and ultimately be valued by their employers so they can deliver for patients.”