NEWS - article for website

this is evidence of work regarding the project website, we, as a team wrote an article each to be emplaced within the website of our channel. this is my article, rewritten from:MIND.CO.UK - PCS HIGH STRESS LEVELS

Mind Charity piece.

recent research produced by Mind seems to indicate that the stress levels of our doctors are dangerously high when compared to the wider uk workforce. in nine of ten(88%) cases PCW(primary care workers) find their life is stressful, significantly higher than the uk average of 56%.

the research was carried out in the form of a poll f over 1000 NHS workers in primary care. including GP's, practice nurses, managers and colleagues. the research also showed that work related stress was the primary cause.

Dr Maureen Baker, Chair of the RCGP, said: “The current state of general practice is pushing GPs to their limit, and these results show it is having a serious impact on their physical and mental health. It goes without saying that a service that relies on sick and fatigued GPs is not good for patient safety.

the impact of work related stress for PCW is significant, with 17% of the polled personnel saying that they had been prescribed medication for a mental health problem. with 8% having considered suicide. PCW's also admitted to using unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as smoking(8%) and drinking semi-regularly(42%).

a major problem, the poll found, was the fear of PCW's to disclose their workplace stress, one in three felt that disclosing that they are stressed would lead to being perceived as being less capable when compared to their colleagues.
Thankfully, the government has pledged to help. Following BMA lobbying a new service for GP's suffering from burnout and/or stress has been planned, wether the government follows though, or wether this service is expanded to include all PCW's could seriously improve and effect the quality of the service provided by the NHS, increasing patient safety and possibly increasing job satisfaction among PCW's.