Heavy workloads ‘are reducing training time for doctors’

The General Medical Council (GMC) has raised concerns that increasingly heavy workloads are jeopardising training opportunities for doctors.

According to the regulator's annual survey of medical education and training in the UK, which drew upon the views of 55,000 doctors in training, most professionals rate their training experience positively, but areas of concern are arising.

More than half of doctors in training said they regularly work beyond their rostered hours, while up to 25 percent said their working patterns left them sleep-deprived on a weekly basis.

Those with excessive workloads were shown to be more likely to have to leave teaching sessions to answer clinical calls, with inexperienced staff often being forced to cope with clinical problems beyond their competence and having inadequate handovers with colleagues.

Additionally, a separate survey of 23,000 trainers revealed that the majority enjoyed their role, but many felt they lacked sufficient time to fulfil their responsibilities to their satisfaction.

Charlie Massey, chief executive of the GMC, said: "We have clear standards about protecting doctors' training and valuing trainers that we expect education bodies and providers to meet. Where our standards are not met, we can and we will take action."

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