The British College of Physicians is concerned about burnout which affects nearly 60% of practitioners. Distress that could have consequences for patients.
The suffering of caregivers threatens the quality of patient care, warns the British College of Physicians in a new annual report. “There is a malaise in the medical profession in Great Britain that could affect both patients and doctors, worry Prof. Terence Stephenson and Nial Dickson. The reasons are complex and multifactorial, and most of them are old. Yet these distress signals are undeniable ”
Physical and psychological overwork, deteriorating working conditions, too dense a working day, conflicts with patients … Across the Channel or in France, the situation is the same, and unfortunately the consequences too. A survey of French doctors revealed that nearly 50% of them were in a situation of professional exhaustion, also called burn-out, or at high risk of being so. In Great Britain, nearly 6 in ten report having experienced this distress.
And despite the warning signs of this ill-being, many continue to work and fall into silence. A demand on themselves which makes the bed of depression and can lead to the irreparable. In fact, this profession is also affected by waves of suicide: each year, about fifty doctors try to put an end to the hour, 2.5 times more than in the general population.
Lack of recognition
A phenomenon which worries the younger generations of practitioners, raises the Council of the British Order. The organization believes that it must play a crucial role in reassuring future doctors who have been shouting their anger and frustration in the streets of London for months. It is therefore important that the profession be supported, accompanied and above all recognized. Better recognition through the reform of medical studies, says the Order.
On the French side, we stress the importance of helping doctors in distress. Help that can only be delivered if the doctor confides. Listening lines, specific structures such as MOTS association (Doctors-Organizations-Work-Health) were created to support professionals. Because, the doctors say they are ready to ask for help and to be accommodated in centers if these are dedicated to them.
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