GPs are in crisis due to work pressures, according to their union
Top of page: Jackie Baillie MSP with Chris Kenny, Chief Executive of the MDDUS.
By Lucy Ashton
MSP Jackie Baillie is supporting a campaign by the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS) to highlight the difficulty facing medics.
New figures published by the body revealed that one in five GPs in Scotland have considered self-harm or suicide due to their work environment.
Now the Dumbarton MSP has backed the MDDUS campaign to help support healthcare professionals by securing more support to combat professional stress and burnout.
The union fears a ‘silent emergency’ is facing doctors in Scotland.
Jackie, also Deputy Leader of Scottish Labour, sponsored a Parliamentary reception on behalf of the MDDUS – which represents the professional interests of doctors and dentists, including 129 members in the area.
Ms Baillie told guests at the Holyrood event: “We frequently talk about the crisis in the NHS, but we can sometimes forget the emotional toll that takes on the workforce.
“No doctor, no dentist should go home feeling they’ve let their patients down because the system isn’t working for them. This is happening all too often and it is pushing many to breaking point.”
A survey of members by MDDUS found that more than half – some 57 per cent – had experienced moral distress resulting from the fact that they know the right course of action for patients but are prevented from carrying it out by the system.
Chris Kenny, chief executive of MDDUS, said: “Since the pandemic, a growing number of doctors and dentists have come to us for support as their wellbeing suffers.
“They’re used to handling pressure, but even the most resilient have limits. If we don’t act now, this silent emergency risks the NHS losing the very people the healthcare service depends on.”
Guests also heard from Professor Lindsey Pope, an Inverclyde GP, who shared personal stories of the challenges faced by family doctors.
Ms Baillie stressed the need for the Scottish Government to prioritise clinicians’ wellbeing to assist in future workforce planning.
She added: “I have been so keen to support this event in the parliament because MDDUS is shining a light on an issue that doesn’t get enough attention, but is actually crucial for the future of healthcare.
“Staff report being burnt out, feeling under-appreciated, and exhausted at work. They are leaving the profession in droves, and this only compounds the crisis faced in health and social care.”