Half of doctors consider quitting because of stress

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Would you let a doctor who was feeling tired, exhausted and exhausted operate on you? Probably not. But the reality is that two-thirds of resident and senior physicians feel “usually or often tired”. This is the result of the latest edition of the regular physician survey by the Swiss Association of Residents and Senior Physicians (VSAO), first reported by “Tages-Anzeiger” and “SRF”.

The cause of constant fatigue was quickly found: Half of the medical profession works more than 50 hours a week. As more and more doctors work part-time, the number of hours is decreasing on average. However, two-thirds of those surveyed say they work more than the agreed hours. According to the survey results, the labor law is violated in two-thirds of the cases.

Operation after two hours of sleep

What’s new is the conclusions doctors draw from this: 52 percent of the current survey say they’re considering quitting. In the last survey three years ago, it was still 39 percent. Meanwhile, the medical profession has survived a pandemic and has been applauded for it – but it’s clear it hasn’t benefited from better working conditions.

The disillusionment of the medical profession was particularly evident at the Einsiedeln Hospital in SZ last summer: all seven residents had given notice of termination.

Assistant doctors at other hospitals later announced their working conditions on “Blick”. “Sometimes I worked from 6.30 am to 10 pm,” Dr. Thomas R.* recalls. In the event of an emergency, it had to be done quickly. “You only sleep for an hour or two and then work for hours.” At one point, the trained doctor and experienced surgeon got fed up. He quit the medical profession and now has an office job at a health insurance company.

bureaucracy struggle

This figure is also alarming: 60 percent of respondents said that patients are already in danger from work-related fatigue. This is also the highest value compared to previous surveys.

At the root of the problem lies the increasing bureaucracy in the health sector. “For many, the burden of administrative work is particularly tiring and frustrating, because they chose the profession to care for patients,” says Anna Wang, President of VSAO Zurich, in “Tages-Anzeiger”.

A roundtable meeting will be held on 9 June to ensure developments. Alongside the VSAO, there will also be the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG), the Hospital Association H+, the Conference of Health Directors, the Swiss Institute for Continuing Medical Education and Training (SIWF) and the FMH Medical Association.

*Name changed

Source :Blick