More than three quarters (76%) of GPs in the UK admit they have continued to work despite not feeling mentally well enough to do so, according to a survey.
More than a quarter (27%) also said taking time off for mental wellbeing issues is not ‘acceptable’ where they work. This is despite the fact that 48% acknowledged that working while not feeling mentally well enough may have contributed to a lower standard of patient care.
The Medical Protection Society (MPS) surveyed over 1,000 doctors in the UK on presenteeism in the medical workforce – of which 255 were GPs.
Of the GP respondents, 70% said they continued to work when not feeling mentally well enough because they felt guilty adding to colleagues’ workloads. Half (51%) said they carried on working because of staff shortages and 46% said it was because their patients rely on them.
The survey also revealed the impact this presenteeism is having on GPs’ work and patient care. Key GP findings include:
- 89% said working while not feeling mentally well enough to do so has made them feel more burnt out and exhausted
- 68% said it has contributed to a lack of empathy with patients
- 57% said it has contributed to a loss of concentration
- 63% said it has contributed to them being more fearful of making mistakes
- 48% said it may have contributed to a lower standard of patient care
- 36% said has contributed to an increased concern about medicolegal issues
- 26% said it has contributed to a breakdown in relationships or conflict with colleagues
- 15% said it may have contributed to a missed or incorrect diagnosis.
Only 18% said working while feeling unwell has no effect on patients although 94% agreed that better access to mental wellbeing support and resources would help to reduce presenteeism.
The MPS has said healthcare staff should feel able to take time off for mental wellbeing issues ‘without guilt, fear or stigma’.
It highlighted that it’s been a year since NHS England initiated a review into the provision of mental wellbeing support for staff across the health service . And as that review continues, funding for NHS Practitioner health, a free national mental health support service for GPs and primary care staff, is only being made available until March 2026.
However, with NHS England being abolished, the MPS has urged this ‘not hold up a plan that ensures support services are properly funded and safeguarded’.
Professor Dame Jane Dacre, MPS President, said: ‘GPs and practice staff should have wellbeing support and resources available to them in the workplace when they need it, to tackle issues early on and enable them to continue to care for patients safely.
‘They should also have access to confidential, specialist help outside of their place of work. We know national services like NHS Practitioner Health – which has funding until Spring 2026 – provide a vital lifeline for many who are struggling to cope.
‘Investment in comprehensive mental wellbeing support can play a critical role in retaining the medical workforce and requires swift and long-term thinking.’
Professor Dacre added that it was particularly disappointing that over a quarter of GPs still feel that taking time off for mental wellbeing issues is not acceptable where they work.
‘Clearly much more needs to be done to enable and support all practice staff to take time off when they are too unwell to work – without guilt, fear or stigma’.
She further warned: ‘GPs are notoriously reluctant to take time off when they feel unwell, and will put their patients’ and colleagues’ needs before their own. Working despite not being mentally well enough can impact on patient care and the survey indicates the variety of ways this could manifest – from lack of empathy and concentration, right through to a missed diagnosis.’
‘Accessible mental wellbeing support is key,’ she said.
MPS members can access confidential counselling sessions and wellbeing resources at no additional cost. To access these, see here.
What did GPs have to say about taking sick leave for mental ill-health?
GP respondents in the MPS survey commented:
‘Cultural expectation is made clear during training to continue working when unwell. The problem is the workload is so great that you know your absence will cause unmanageable workloads for your colleagues and leave them potentially practising in an unsafe manner.’
‘You are struggling the day and night before your shift, and you’ve cried the entire night, but you can’t call in sick. Because when they ask you what’s the reason for calling in sick, no one wants to say it’s a personal reason with mental health. Instead, you opt to go work.’
‘If you have time off due to anxiety or depression or burnout people will imply that you “lack resilience”.’
‘My manager will ask us to work from home rather than be off sick. It makes it a harder working day than being in work. I therefore get more worried about calling in sick as if I’m unwell I’m not well enough to deal with that question.’
‘I have to keep working, my partner colleagues need me to, my receptionists need me to, my nurses need me to. The practice cannot run otherwise. There is always a need to provide more and more appointments, to constantly provide access. It’s endless. I cannot let my colleagues down or alone to deal with the daily aggression from patients.’
‘When not feeling mentally well enough to work, the ability to focus, make sound clinical decisions, and manage complex situations effectively can be compromised. This could impact the quality of care provided, increasing the risk of errors and affecting overall patient outcomes. Ensuring patient safety is always the priority, so a supportive and understanding work environment is essential for healthcare professionals to perform at their best.’
