Royal College of General Practitioners - Online Learning Environment

Written by Dr Dirk Pilat

There is no question that general practice is an increasingly stressful profession, with ever growing demands placed on GPs while battling with diminishing financial and staffing resources. Days at work that just won’t end, never-ending workload and little control over our working lives can affect even the most resilient of practitioners. Throw in the constant battle with complaints and medicolegal issues and it’s no wonder that the prevalence of burnout, depression, low self-esteem and anxiety are significantly higher in the medical profession compared with the general population¹. The numbers are startling: An MDDUS survey from 2024 reported 71% of general practitioners suffering from compassion fatigue and 65% suffering from burnout². A PULSE survey from 2025 found that more than 54% of primary care doctors had to reduce sessions due to stress³. Unfortunately doctors aren’t great patients: we tend to downplay the severity of our symptoms and under-diagnose conditions in ourselves and often ignore the fact that we should seek help⁴.

For some time now, but particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, attempts have been made to prevent burnout syndrome through individual and systemic approaches within the primary care workforce. Various psychological interventions were developed to empower professionals coping with increasing stress and burnout. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) are effective in reducing stress and promoting self-care and wellbeing: there is a growing body of research evidence that these can increase job satisfaction and even improve patient outcomes. Mindfulness has a well-established evidence base showing efficacy in improving the psychological wellbeing in both clinical and non-clinical populations. Various MBIs exist, though mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is the most extensively reviewed. Originally designed for patients with chronic medical and psychological conditions, it improves quality of life via focussed attention exercises, cognitive restructuring and adaptive learning techniques⁵. A 2020 systematic review of mindfulness – based stress reduction interventions on the psychological functioning of healthcare professionals showed that this particular method reduced anxiety, depression and stress and increased self-compassion⁶.

A 2021 systematic review on the impact of psychological Interventions with elements of mindfulness for physicians came to a similar conclusion: the vast majority of studies showed a positive impact on empathy, well-being, and reduction of burnout⁷. Similarly, a 2016 mixed method study showed that general practitioners who learned mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR) techniques as a part of their regular CPD programme showed a significant decrease in depersonalisation and an increase in dedication and mindfulness skills compared with the control group⁸.

Interestingly, a decline in empathy and an increase in stress levels is not only experienced by established general practitioners but also by medical students and young doctors during their training. At the Charité – the medical faculty of the Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - medical students can choose to take part in a voluntary course on stress reduction. Delivered over one semester, students are being taught methods of mindfulness and meditation with quantitative results showing a reduction in perceived stress and an increase in self-efficacy, mindfulness, self-reflection and empathy⁹, confirming previous results of similar interventions, including previously obtained long-term results of this course format showing effects on stress biomarkers¹⁰.

For those struggling to find the time to engage in MBI, the ubiquitousness of wearable technological devices such as smart watches and mobile phones can – rather counter-intuitively – help to take part in short activities helping to achieve emotional control in the middle of a busy day. An example for this is the ‘Mindfulness app’ on the Apple Watch (similar apps exist on Android-based devices). A small 2024 mixed method study invited participants to engage for 5 minutes daily with the application, trying to achieve 6 breaths per minute during usage. After two weeks the data showed this to result in a significant increase in participants’ coping skills and slight reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety¹¹.

In these stressful days it feels important to identify strategies to the improve quality of life for the primary care workforce. For some, mindfulness-based interventions might be just the ticket, even when it’s only for 5 minutes a day.

References:

1. Society of Occupational Medicine. What could make a difference to the mental health of UK doctors? A review of the research evidence. 2018.
   
2. MDDUS. Compassion fatigue in healthcare professionals 2024.
   
3. Colivicchi A. More than half of GPs reduced their sessions due to work-related stress. Pulse Today. 2025. 
   
4. Best, Ho. What’s it like to be a patient as a doctor. British Medical Journal 2024 Oct 11; q1486–6.
   
5. Kabat-Zinn, Jon. Full catastrophe living: Using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain, and illness. New York: Bantam Books, 2013
   
6. Kriakous SA, Elliott KA, Lamers C, et al. The Effectiveness of mindfulness-based Stress Reduction on the Psychological Functioning of Healthcare professionals: a Systematic Review. Mindfulness. 2021 Sep 24; 12 (1): 1–28.
   
7. Tement S, Ketiš ZK, Miroševič Š, et al. The Impact of Psychological Interventions with Elements of Mindfulness (PIM) on Empathy, Well-Being, and Reduction of Burnout in Physicians: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021 Oct 25; 18 (21): 11181.
   
8. Verweij H, Waumans RC, Smeijers D, et al. Mindfulness-based stress reduction for GPs: results of a controlled mixed methods pilot study in Dutch primary care. British Journal of General Practice. 2016 Jan 28; 66 (643): e99–105. 
   
9. Brinkhaus B, Stöckigt B, Witt CM, et al. Reducing stress, strengthening resilience and self-care in medical students through Mind-Body Medicine (MBM). 2025 Jan 1; 42 (1): Doc7–7.
   
10. MacLaughlin BW, Wang D, Noone AM, et al. Stress Biomarkers in Medical Students Participating in a Mind Body Medicine Skills Program. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2011; 2011: 1–8.
    
11. Wright SL, Bach E, Bryson SP, et al. Using an App-Based Mindfulness Intervention: A Mixed Methods Approach. Cognitive and behavioral practice. 2024 Apr 1.
    

Stress is a problem

Being a GP can be an extremely varied and rewarding career, but the pressure of dealing with an ever-increasing number of patients every day can take its toll.  It’s estimated that GPs in England alone provide first contact care to more than 1.2 million patients per day¹. Many practices struggle with staffing levels, meaning that some GPs are taking on even larger list sizes than before.

According to the Ninth National GP Worklife Survey² of 2195 GPs, the average reported working week was 41.8 hours, which has stayed consistent since 2008. Nine out of ten GPs reported experiencing considerable or high pressure from increasing workloads, amongst other stressors such as paperwork and having insufficient time in the working day to do their jobs. The 2015 Commonwealth Fund International Survey of Primary Care Physicians found that GPs in the UK had the highest levels of stress out of the 10 nations surveyed³

A GP’s personal life can also be affected. The GMC’s 2018 report on ‘The state of medical education and practice in the UK’ found that 72% of younger GPs feel that their work-life balance has deteriorated as a result of their stress at work. The report also found that one out of four doctors had considered leaving the medical profession at least every month. One of the most alarming findings was that two out of every 100 doctors said that they had to take a leave of absence due to stress for at least one month in the last year⁴.

With many GPs regularly fearing that they can’t cope in their current roles, it’s not surprising that burnout is increasing. The BMA’s 2019 report on ‘Caring for the mental health of the medical workforce’ found that a total of 88% of GP partners and 85% of sessional GPs face a 'high' or 'very high' risk of burnout⁵.  Regional reports from the RCGP found that a proportion of GPs feel so stressed that they are unable to cope. The figures for this were 31% in Wales⁶, 37% in Scotland⁷ and 32% in Northern Ireland⁸.

Recognising the signs of stress and burnout

Even though GPs are expected to recognise the signs in their patients, they may not always realise that they are stressed themselves. It’s easy to plough on with day-to-day tasks and to become consumed with work, so the tell-tale signs such as irritability, poor sleep and increased alcohol use may be missed. The NHS website page on stress includes lists of the physical, mental and behavioural symptoms that may be overlooked.

The NHS Practitioner Health Programme (PHP) was launched in 2008, with the addition of the NHS General Practitioner Health Service (GPH) in 2017. These services aim to provide support to practitioners who are struggling with mental health or addiction problems, so that they can find help before these issues escalate further. According to the PHP’s report on their first 10 years of service, around half of all PHP patients are GPs. Between 2008 and 2018, over 5000 doctors presented to PHP and 83.5% of these were due to mental health problems. For GPs specifically, this figure rises to 88%, with 10% presenting with addiction problems. The remaining 2% is classified as ‘other’¹. In general, NHS staff have higher sickness rates than the rest of the economy. The latest sickness absence reports, from NHS digital, show that the sickness rate is now at 4.23% in England. From the sicknesses reported, 27.1% of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) days were lost due to anxiety, stress, depression or other psychiatric illnesses⁹.

Dealing with stress

Resilience is mentioned a lot in relation to managing stress. It can be defined as “the ability to adapt and succeed in the face of adversity and stress”. A resilient person can maintain their wellbeing and continue moving forward when they are tested by life’s difficulties. Being resilient doesn’t come naturally to everyone and can be something to develop over time. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development have produced ‘Developing resilience: a guide for practitioners’  which contains evidence-based guidance. NHS England also looks at resilience from a clinician’s point of view and summarises the 'Eight principles for being a resilient doctor' which are set out by the Australian Medical Association. These principles focus on the changes that can be made in everyday life to help with developing resilience.

Taking time to improve wellbeing can be a good stress-reliever. The New Economics Foundation (NEF) outlines ‘Five ways to wellbeing’, These consist of:

• Connect – Make time for family and friends. Build relationships with colleagues and neighbours. Become part of your local community.
• Take notice – Think about what matters to you most and take time to appreciate it. Be aware of your feelings and emotions. Try meditation and mindfulness.
• Keep learning – Try something new and embrace new experiences. Learning a new skill can boost your confidence and create an escape from stressors.
• Be active – Think about which physical activity you enjoy and that suits you. Regular exercise is associated with lower rates of depression and anxiety and helps to slow down age-related cognitive decline.
• Give – Do something nice for a friend or stranger or volunteer your time to the community. Feeling part of a wider community can be rewarding and build connections with those around you.

In order to ensure the wellbeing of doctors in their workplace, the GMC outline an ‘ABC of doctors’ core needs’. When these needs are met, it’s suggested that people are more motivated and have better overall health and wellbeing. Even if one of the needs is not met, it can have a negative impact on a doctor’s wellbeing and motivation. The following needs are taken from the GMC’s ‘Caring for doctors Caring for patients’ report¹⁰

• Autonomy or control – the need to have control over our work lives, and to act consistently with our work and life values.
• Belonging – the need to be connected to, cared for, and caring of others around us in the workplace and to feel valued, respected and supported.
• Competence – the need to experience effectiveness and deliver valued outcomes, such as high-quality care.

The RCGP recognises that being a GP is one of the most difficult jobs in medicine. As the first point of contact for most patients, a GP sees an average of 41 patients per day¹¹. The RCGP’s ‘Fit for the Future’ campaign is the College’s vision for the future of general practice. It covers the changing role of the GP, the tools and skills needed to fulfil this role and the vision of an expanding general practice workforce. This campaign outlines the ways that primary care can adapt to ever-changing health needs and ultimately help to relieve the dangerous levels of stress that GPs currently face.

Further information about the ‘Fit for the Future’ campaign can be found on the RCGP website.

Getting help

For any GPs who are struggling with the pressures of their role or showing signs of stress or burnout, the following resources may help:

• NHS GP Health service – Confidential service for GPs and GP trainees in England. It can help with issues relating to mental health, including stress or depression, or addiction problems. It’s provided by health professionals with expertise in addressing the issues concerning doctors. The BMA also have a support service that is open to the whole of the UK.
• Online cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – This can be accessed via your local ‘Improving Access to Psychological Therapies’ scheme in England. In Scotland, there are online self-help resources available on ‘Moodjuice’.  The ‘Living Life to the Full’ website also contains many online CBT resources that are available throughout the UK.
• The Balint Society – The society aims to help all health and social care professionals in the UK better understand the emotional content of their patient relationships. As a member of the Balint Society you can join a ‘Balint group’, which is a gathering for members to discuss particularly difficult patient cases confidentially in a safe space.
• Mentoring – Becoming a mentor or mentee provides an opportunity to develop professionally and discuss any work-based issues. In either role, mentoring can be a great way to get further insights in to your own working situation, whilst having an impartial sounding board for any difficulties experienced in your role.  You can find out more about The Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management (FMLM) mentoring scheme. You can also contact your local RCGP Faculty to see if any local mentorship schemes are available. Further mentoring resources can be found on the BMA website.
• Mental health apps – A range of different apps that can help with anxiety, self-harm and exploring mindfulness are listed on the NHS website.
• Big White Wall – This website offers a support network, resources for self-management and live therapy via text, audio or secure video. It is accessible, for free, to UK serving personnel, veterans and their families, and some UK Universities and colleges. It is also available in some locations via the NHS. Eligibility can be checked via their website.
• The RCGP provides support and advice on GP wellbeing and mental health.
• A list of further support services that are specifically aimed at GPs in England can be found on the NHS website. If you are registered with GP Online, you can also access a list of support organisations on their website.

References

¹  NHS Practitioner Health Service. 2018. The Wounded Healer: Report on the First 10 Years of Practitioner Health Service. [Online]. Available from: http://php.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2018/10/PHP-report-web.pdf

²  Policy Research Unit in Commissioning and the Healthcare System. 2017. Ninth National GP Worklife Survey. [Online]. Available from: http://dudleylmc.org/oldsite/archived/www.mrsite.co.uk/usersitesv22/dudleylmc.org/wwwroot/USERIMAGES/Ninth-National-GP-Worklife-Survey.pdf

³  The Commonwealth Fund. 2015. 2015 Commonwealth Fund International Survey of Primary Care Physicians in 10 Nations. [Online]. Available from: https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/surveys/2015/dec/2015-commonwealth-fund-international-survey-primary-care-physicians

⁴  General Medical Council. 2018. The state of medical education and practice in the UK. [Online]. Available from: https://www.gmc-uk.org/about/what-we-do-and-why/data-and-research/the-state-of-medical-education-and-practice-in-the-uk

⁵  British Medical Association. 2019. Caring for the mental health of the medical workforce. [Online].

⁶  Royal College of General Practitioners Wales. 2018. Transforming general practice: Building a profession fit for the future. [Online].

⁷  Royal College of General Practitioners Scotland. 2019. From the Frontline. The Changing landscape of Scottish general practice. [Online]. Available from: https://www.rcgp.org.uk/getmedia/6a6e4f92-1110-4c84-8ce9-589a8f4eeb48/RCGP-scotland-frontline-june-2019.pdf

⁸  Royal College of General Practitioners Northern Ireland. 2019. Royal College of General Practitioners Northern Ireland GPs Survey. [Online]. Available from: https://www.comresglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/RCGP_ComRes_Northern-Ireland-GPs-Survey_Wave-4_Tables.pdf

⁹  NHS Digital. 2019. NHS Sickness Absence Rates, July 2019, Provisional Statistics. [Online]. Available from: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-sickness-absence-rates/july-2019-provisional-statistics

¹⁰  General Medical Council. 2019. Caring for doctors Caring for patients. [Online]. Available from:  https://www.gmc-uk.org/-/media/documents/caring-for-doctors-caring-for-patients_pdf-80706341.pdf     

¹¹  Pulse. 2018. GPs have almost twice the safe number of patient contacts a day. [Online]. Available from: http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/home/finance-and-practice-life-news/gps-have-almost-twice-the-safe-number-of-patient-contacts-a-day/20035863.article