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02
Nov 2016
NHS morale crisis ‘puts patients at risk’
The General Medical Council (GMC) has warned that low morale levels among doctors could be putting patients at risk and says that they are experiencing higher levels of dissatisfaction than ever before.
A current ‘state of unease’ exists among health professionals, which is considered to be partly due to financial pressure within the NHS, growing workloads, pressure brought on by an ageing population and the ongoing junior doctor dispute.
The GMC’s sixth annual report, titled The State Of Medical Education And Practice In The UK, said in its introduction “There appears to be a general acceptance that the system cannot simply go on as before”.
The report went on to say “There is a state of unease within the medical profession across the UK that risks affecting patients as well as doctors.”
Over the three year period 2012 to 2015, the number of doctors who, directly after completing their foundation training applied to train as specialists, fell by 12 percentage points to just under two thirds. Of those who did not apply, 86 per cent cited their reason as a need for a work-life balance, and 47 per cent said they needed to take a break because of burnout.
The report’s authors stressed that, despite the pessimistic findings, healthcare within the UK “remains among the best in the world”.
A spokesman from the NHS Employers group welcomed the “insight the report gives into the huge financial and service pressures the NHS is under.
“We know insufficient social care funding is an immediate threat to the NHS and the wider health and care system putting increasing pressure on frontline staff and patients.
“We need the Government to incentivise greater coordination between local authorities and the NHS and to invest more in out-of-hospital health and care.”
Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence compensation claims, and have obtained substantial compensation for our clients. Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.
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Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
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