'Stressed out' doctors cutting back on hours

DOCTORS are at breaking point and many are cutting back their hours to protect their wellbeing, the medical regulator has warned.

- Hanna Geissler

A "concerning" number were taking time off due to stress, according to the General Medical Council's annual workplace experiences report.

The study, which polled more than 4,000 medics across the country, said health services were in a critical state, adding: "Workloads are high and professional satisfaction is low."

A third of doctors feel unable to cope, while nearly a quarter said they had been forced to take time off due to stress over the last year.

Some 41% polled last year said they had refused to take on additional work-up from 23% in 2021.

And 19% said they had cut their hours due to "pressure on workload and capacity"-up from 8% in 2021.