GPs in the UK are under greater stress than those in other high-income countries, according to a major analysis published today.

The figures come from the Health Foundation and are based on Commonwealth Fund information. Their report, released today, covers the pressures facing GPs in the UK and internationally, looking at survey results from 9,526 GPs in ten high-income countries. This includes 1,010 GP staff in the UK. Emotional distress and workload increases are bigger in the UK than nearly all other countries, the report shows. In the UK, 71% of GPs describe their job as ‘extremely’ or ‘very stressful’, with overall stress rising by 11% since 2019. Only 24% of UK GPs are ‘extremely’ or ‘very’ satisfied with practising medicine, lower than most other countries in the survey.

Since the pandemic, half of GPs believe that the quality of care they can provide has worsened. However, UK GPs report feeling more confident at managing palliative care needs (96%) and dementia (95%) than most other countries surveyed. Online access to services, electronic medical records, and use of data to inform care all score highly in the UK.

“The NHS is not the only health system under pressure, but the experience of GPs in the UK should ring alarm bells for government,” said Hugh Alderwick of the Health Foundation. “General practice is the foundation of the NHS, yet GPs are telling us loud and clear that these foundations are creaking. The pandemic has taken a heavy toll on UK GPs, combined with longer-run challenges including staff gaps and rising workload. GPs are stressed out and burnt out – and many are considering leaving their jobs.”

Dr Kieran Sharrock, acting chair of the British Medical Association’s GP committee in England, said the findings were “unfortunately unsurprising”.

He said: “Workload in general practice has become totally unsustainable and GPs are burning themselves out trying to keep up with rising patient demand. It really worries me that so many of my colleagues are reporting that they are stressed and burnt out. Many talented and experienced doctors are becoming disenchanted and feel as though they have no choice but to reduce their hours or leave the profession altogether, ultimately depriving communities of the care they need. We’ve now lost the equivalent of 2,078 fully qualified full-time GPs since September 2015. The BMA echoes the calls made by the Health Foundation; the Government must act to tackle the growing GP workforce crisis and reduce harmful workloads on doctors.”

Royal College of GPs chair Professor Kamila Hawthorne said: “It is alarming, but not at all surprising, that GPs in the UK are amongst the most stressed and over-stretched of the nations examined. This chimes with College research that has shown that two -thirds of GPs feel so over-stretched that they cannot guarantee safe patient care, and many cite workload and burn out as a reason they are considering leaving the profession.”

Professor Hawthorne added: “It’s not all bad news. The UK is further ahead than most other countries on some elements like practices offering online repeat prescriptions, and more GPs feel their practice is prepared with the right skills and experience to manage patients with dementia, chronic illnesses and for palliative care. It’s also clear from the report that the fundamentals of general practice in the UK are good and worth supporting. GPs and our teams make the vast majority of patient contact in the NHS, and by doing so we alleviate pressures across the health service, including in A&E. But it does show, without a doubt, that as the foundation of the NHS, we are struggling. The forthcoming primary care recovery plan and long-awaited NHS workforce plan will be key opportunities to address the workload and workforce pressures facing general practice.”