Locum insurance is essential now the new revalidation process risks making GP burnout even more likely
So you’re stressed but you’re hoping things will get easier, right?
In fact, the new revalidation process is likely to make things much worse. So what should you do about the increasing amount of stress you’re likely to face?
GPs are already under pressure. In June 2013 ‘Pulse’ reported that a staggering 43% GPs in their stress survey were classified as being at a very high risk of developing burnout.
RCGP chair Professor Clare Gerada said: “‘We are more than 10,000 GPs short according to the Centre for Workforce Intelligence and GPs have reached their tipping point. GP burnout is more common than ever especially amongst partners. The Government, policy-makers and think-tanks must recognise the stress and workload issues crisis in the interests of patient care.”
But that recognition hasn’t come yet. In fact the situation is getting worse with the introduction of the new revalidation process. Its aim is to protect patients by ensuring that GPs know what they're doing– something which the BMA has always supportedin principle. However, Dr Peter Holden, a veteran GPC negotiator and GP in Matlock, Derbyshirereported that some doctors are having to spend more than 40 hours on the annual appraisal process since revalidation was introduced – five times longer than the ‘one working day’ specified in the 2004 GP contract.
If someone from your practice was affected, how would you cope? With GPs facing ever higher levels of stress, especially in deprived areas, it makes sense to make proper provision for burnout with the right level of locum cover, before anyone in your practice starts to show signs of strain.
With Practice Cover, a tax deductible premium of as little as £1,300 a year will pay out £2,500 a week (following a 4 deferment period) for up to 52 weeks. You don’t have to spend the money we pay out on a locum either – spend it on whatever you need to keep your practice running smoothly.
The opinions presented in this blog are solely those of the author on behalf of Practice Cover Limited and they do not constitute individual advice.
