GP staffing crisis can CARE unless female doctors get more menopausal support, report warns
One in five female doctors in the UK are between the ages of 45 and 54, data shows
They face symptoms such as anxiety, depression, poor concentration, brain fog
One in seven said they felt supported by their employers, a report warned today
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GPs will face an exodus of female GPs unless they get more support during menopause, an influential report warns.
One in five female doctors in the UK are between the ages of 45 and 54, when menopause is likely to occur – about 10 per cent of the total number of GPs.
They face symptoms such as anxiety, depression, poor concentration, brain fog, dizziness and insomnia while taking care of patients themselves.
But despite most working within the NHS, only one in seven said they felt supported by their employers, and one in six reported colleagues disapproving of the symptoms.
One in five female doctors in the UK are between the ages of 45 and 54 when menopause is likely to occur – about 10 per cent of the total number of GPs
A fifth said they have considered early retirement as a result, and two-thirds (65 percent) feel they have nowhere to turn to for their health at work, according to the Medical Protection Society (MPS) survey.
Experts warned the problem threatened to exacerbate the shortage of primary care physicians, pushing the number down by nearly 500 since 2019, from 28,094 to 27,627.
Dame Jane Dacre, MPS chair, said it was clear that many women were “suffering in silence” and needed more support.
She said: ‘It is striking that while most doctors indicate that they are confident in supporting and treating patients who suffer from menopause symptoms, so many female doctors do not feel well supported at work when they themselves are suffering. of these symptoms.’
She added that while symptoms can vary in severity, they can be particularly challenging when working in a complex environment such as healthcare.
Many of them are terrible mistakes that could lead to them being sued, with one respondent saying, ‘As a primary care physician, you have nowhere to hide if you’re having an ‘off’ day. You have to be equally good, just as competent every day.’
Another said: ‘The only issue where a woman can take time off for her reproductive health that is generally accepted is pregnancy – that’s the reality.’
A recent government report on the future of GPs warned that many were ‘demoralised’: More than 40 percent of GPs and trainee GPs will leave GP practice in the next five years.
Another described the UK’s reliance on international medical graduates as ‘precarious’, rising 40 per cent in the past five years compared to just 10 per cent of UK graduates.
The MPS calls for flexible work arrangements for clinicians struggling with menopause, such as making reasonable adjustments in the workplace and ensuring staff take breaks or time off when needed – without fear of harming their career or professional reputation.
Managers and senior leaders in the NHS and in private healthcare facilities should be trained in the subject and use occupational health teams to support staff.
Professor Dacre added: ‘It is not only good and fair to make improvements in this area, it is essential. If we don’t destigmatize menopause, we could lose many skilled and passionate doctors at a time when the profession can’t afford it.
“A supportive culture will relieve additional stress, enable these physicians to continue to perform at their best for patients and thrive longer in their careers.”