Dr. Latifa Patel from the British Medical Association stressed the urgent need to address the mental health crisis among NHS staff, asserting that doctors should not endure suffering to the point of self-harm.

The findings pose potential challenges for the government's NHS reform initiative, as 66% of GPs feel unprepared for the transition of healthcare from hospitals to community settings.

A recent survey of 1,855 doctors in the UK revealed that 62% experience compassion fatigue, significantly affecting the doctor-patient relationship.

Among those surveyed, 1,147 doctors reported experiencing compassion fatigue, with General Practitioners (GPs) being particularly affected; 71% of GPs suffer from this condition.

The prevalence of compassion fatigue among GPs is alarming, with 422 out of 597 reporting symptoms that hinder their ability to empathize with patients.

Prof. Kamila Hawthorne highlighted that GPs also face moral distress due to non-medical factors impacting patient care, such as housing issues and long NHS waiting lists.

Dr. John Holden, chief medical officer at the MDDUS, noted that GPs are especially vulnerable to compassion fatigue due to their heavy workloads and prolonged exposure to patients' suffering.

The situation is exacerbated by the fact that 84% of GPs experienced verbal abuse and 24% faced physical abuse from patients in 2024, largely due to long wait times and complaints.

The survey also revealed that 21% of medics have contemplated self-harm or suicide, with 85% attributing these thoughts to job-related stress.

Mental health expert Prof. Clare Gerada explained that symptoms of compassion fatigue include emotional numbness, detachment, and feeling overwhelmed.

Compassion fatigue is described as a hidden trauma that can lead to unsafe care, with nearly half of the surveyed doctors fearing it could result in complaints.

In response to these alarming trends, a Department of Health spokesperson emphasized ongoing support for NHS staff, including mental health services and a £26 million budget for new mental health crisis centers.