A recent survey conducted by the British Medical Association found that half of doctors are planning to work fewer hours due to the burnout experienced by medical teams amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The study reported that one in four doctors is considering taking a career break, and 21% are thinking about leaving the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK for another profession. Many doctors who participated in the study, which involved 2,099 individuals, blamed the workload burden caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, including the inability to take breaks.
Forty percent of doctors surveyed said they do not have a safe place at work where they can relax with colleagues, according to Sky News on Monday. One doctor, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated, "My mental and physical health must be a priority in order to continue working." He added, "Taking a break during a shift means getting 10 minutes in my office to have a cup of tea and catch up on some of the hundreds of emails I need to read and respond to." He continued, "I have to stay two hours after my shift ends to follow up on the rest of my emails, many of which I check during my vacation. It's exhausting."
He confirmed he has begun exploring job opportunities outside of the NHS, saying, "I don't know yet if I will leave the medical profession, but I'm seriously considering it. If the right opportunity arises, I won't hesitate." The number of doctors contemplating early retirement in the UK has increased from 14% in June to 32% in a survey conducted in April.
Dr. Chand Nagpul, chairman of the British Medical Association, stated that the results of the new survey indicated a "very concerning" situation. He added that the NHS needs "talented and experienced professionals now more than ever to pull this country out of the current health crisis."
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said, "This government is committed to supporting the NHS and its staff in combating COVID-19 and beyond." He added, "There are record numbers of doctors and nurses in the NHS, totaling over 1.18 million people, and there are now more medical students in training than ever before in the organization's history."
