A survey by the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Toi Mata Hauora, shows one in two senior doctors are
experiencing high levels of burnout and there has been no improvement in the past five years.
Burnout is an occupational syndrome caused by chronic workplace stress.
ASMS has repeated a survey carried out in 2015 to compare burnout levels five years on and to measure the impact of
staffing shortages, growing patient demand and clinical pressures.
More than 2,100 ASMS members took part, and the results are detailed in a new report “My Employer is Exhausting – Burnout in the senior medical workforce five years on”.
The survey results indicate that high levels of burnout caused by work-related stress and exhaustion is now an
entrenched feature of the senior medical and dental workforce.
Some of the key takeaways from the survey are:50% of respondents reported burnoutBurnout affects female doctors more than male doctorsMore than half of the respondents in eleven of the 20 DHBs scored as likely to be suffering from burnoutSouthern DHB recorded the highest levels of burnout and a significant increaseRadiation oncologists, rural hospital specialists, respiratory physicians and emergency department specialists recorded
the highest burnout levels.
Those who responded to the survey emphasised burgeoning patient demand, frustrations with the system, being pushed to do
more with less, staffing shortages and overstretched specialist services which can’t provide patients with the level of
care required.
“This latest survey reinforces that we have a very stressed-out medical workforce in which burnout has become an
entrenched feature,” says ASMS Director of Policy and Research Dr Charlotte Chambers.
“It also highlights that not enough is being done to manage clinical workloads and burnout risk”.
The report stresses that burnout is not an individual failure but a failure by the system to address the root cause of
the problem.
“Wellbeing is a formal responsibility of an employer and DHBs have not been meeting their obligations,” Dr Chambers
says.
“Among other things they need to be providing opportunities for more flexible working arrangements, and better rest and
recovery time for those doing on-call and shift work. The normalisation of excessively long working hours also needs to
stop”.
The report calls for adequate resourcing of hospital departments to meet patient demand, regular staff-focussed service
reviews, and staff wellbeing indicators to be included as a standing item in hospital audits.
Under the health reforms announced by the government next month, the employment and management of health workers will
fall under the new entity Health New Zealand.
ASMS believes as a new national employer Health New Zealand must seize the opportunity to develop a strategic plan to
manage burnout in the senior medical workforce, commit to proper workforce planning and invest in the clinical staff
working at the coalface of the health system.
“Making the health reforms work will rely on a healthy, well-resourced and cared for health workforce,” Dr Chambers
says.