Daily Research News Online no. 1849 - Doctor Stress Levels in the UK

Doctor Stress Levels in the UK

September 5 2002

Despite the recent majority vote to move to the next stage of developing a new GP contract, 3 in 4 GPs (75%) in the UK, according to recent research by Martin Hamblin GfK, do not expect it to have a positive effect on work-related stress.

On 16 July 2002, in the ballot on the new contract, 75.8 per cent of GPs voted yes to the question: 'Do you believe that the new GMS contractual framework is an acceptable basis on which to proceed to the next stage of detailed negotiations and the preparation of a priced contract on which the profession will be balloted?' The BMA reported that this was 'a clear signal to take the new GP contract forward to the final stage of negotiations and pricing'.

However, according to recent findings from a survey of UK GPs, whilst many family doctors may be in agreement with the objectives of the new contract, 75% do not believe that it will succeed in reducing work-related stress. Martin Hamblin GfK undertook the survey this month amongst 412 GPs using a nationally representative UK sample.

GPs were also asked to consider the objectives of the new GP contract, which are as follows:

The resources available to practices will be fairly targeted and will take account of the needs of the practice population.
New work will attract new resources.
Practices will be allowed to opt out of providing some services.
Primary care organisations will in due course assume responsibility for the provision of out-of-hours services.
The current arrangements for patient allocation will be changed.
Doctors and the practice team will be able to keep their workload within safe limits.
Career development opportunities will enable some GPs to reduce their clinical workload.
Demand management initiatives will be introduced.

When GPs were asked 'Do you think that the initiatives set out in the framework document will meet these objectives', only 31% replied yes (64% said no, 5% didn't know).

When being asked to rate the importance of these objectives, the majority of doctors (68%) rated the 'ability to keep their workload within safe limits' as the most important issue in their employment as a GP. Also important to GPs is the aim that 'new work which will attract new resources' (51%) and that 'resources will be targeted to the needs of the practice population' (51%).

Martin Hamblin GfK used Generator, the company's monthly GP omnibus survey to collect this information. Generator conducts 600 interviews amongst GPs in a face-to-face survey in a two-week period once a month.

All articles 2006-22 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.