Dr Sanju George and Dr Clare Gerada’s editorial ‘Stressed GPs: a call for action’ describes all too clearly the considerable work pressures and significant levels of stress experienced by GPs in the UK.1 They not only point out the need for urgent systemic change, but also call on doctors to own more responsibility for their own psychological health and wellbeing. At the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund (RMBF), we have been running campaigns to highlight the stress experienced by doctors and tackle the stigma of seeking help, encouraging them to come forward at the earliest opportunity. At our Grants & Awards Committee, we consider the cases of hundreds of doctors each year who have reached crisis point; and, in so many cases of serious difficulty, the sadly familiar line is ‘I wish I’d spoken to someone sooner’.
The editorial argues that doctors need to be more aware of their own psychological wellbeing and signs of stress, and should seek help earlier. At the RMBF, we wholeheartedly support this view and, with support from NHS England, have produced a guide specifically for GPs facing stress at work. The Vital Signs in Primary Care, authored by RMBF Trustee and Thames Valley PSU Associate Director, Dr Richard Stevens, sets out the key stress and pressure points for GPs and GP trainees to be aware of, provides practical advice on addressing the underlying causes of stress, and signposts support and resources for those experiencing difficulty.
The guide is free to download at https://rmbf.org/about/resources/the-vital-signs/ and free hard copies for any GP practice can be ordered by request from info{at}rmbf.org.
- © British Journal of General Practice 2019
