A Northampton doctor has called for support for stressed doctors and medical students to guard against patient harm.
Dr Jamie Green, a GP registrar at Abington Medical Centre, speaking at the British Medical Association (BMA) said wrong prescriptions and botched procedures could be the result if levels of fatigue get too high.
He said: “Our lives are becoming increasingly complicated and our working lives are busier than ever.
“We are expected to do more, in less time, and on a smaller budget.
“However we all have our limits.
“Stress and burnout can affect us all, even if we don’t realise at first. A cross word with a colleague, that poor consultation with the patient, that procedure that seems more difficult than expected.
“But the impact of doctor burnout can be so much more severe.
“There are safeguards in place for pilots and lorry drivers, to prevent them causing loss of life with large dangerous machines. But how much more dangerous do you want to get than a scalpel, or prescription pad?
“Stress and burnout in doctors can be catastrophic. Putting our patients at risk, while ruining the careers of our students and doctors at all levels.”
Dr Green, who is to be a GP Partner at Delapre and Whitefields from August, said part of the problem is that doctors have begun to normalise stress and burnout, and are often made to feel thhey are “ethically obliged to continue regardless.”
They may therefore be reluctant to ask for help, Dr Green said.
He said the problem is compounded for medical students and doctors in training, with exams, portfolios or log-books who fear they will be “singled out and looked over” if they speak up.
Anecdotally, Dr Green added, senior doctors and GPs are taking early retirement, or dropping sessions.
He said studies should be carried out into the prevalence of stress and burnout, and the root causes, so help can be offered.
Dr Green said: “This meeting has identified the growing disaster which is stress and burnout in the health service.
“It is now time for the BMA to act, and act decisively.”