A LEADING town doctor has backed increased support for GPs after a mental health charity voiced concerns over ‘worrying’ levels of stress among practice staff.

Dr Peter Swinyard, who works at Toothill’s Phoenix Surgery, spoke out as research, conducted on behalf of mental health charity Mind, found nine out of 10 GPs and practice staff found their work-life so stressful that 43 per cent resigned.

Dr Swinyard, who qualified in 1979 and founded the surgery in 1995, said the combination of mounting paperwork, increased patient load, dwindling resources and long work hours has put significant pressure on GPs and their practice staff.

“The role of a GP has changed beyond measure," he said. "Becoming a GP is harder than it has ever been due to the level of sheer administrative duties we have to take on. I can fully understand why some doctors and practice staff leave the profession due to stress,” he said.

“GPs want to provide the best possible care but due to very considerable workload that places great demand on time and resources the pressure does increase and I have seen it happen.

“The population is growing and people are living longer which places more demands on a dwindling service which is already under-funded.

“GPs used to be reactive, patients would come to us with problems but now it has very much changed and includes preventative health care.

“I feel there is a chronic misunderstanding of the work that GPs do and this needs to be rectified by the government, we need more support and understanding. There should be public information days where people are shown the remit of what a GP does.”

The report found two in five practice staff said workplace stress has led them to resign or consider resigning, and one in three felt that admitting to being overly stressed would mean they were perceived as less capable than their colleagues.

It also revealed one in 10 had suicidal thoughts as a consequence of workplace stress.

Dr Swinyard said he had seen evidence of increased pressure on his staff.

“For staff there’s a degree of serious information to absorb which is extraordinary and thankfully we have fantastic reception staff who really know their stuff," he said.

"However we had a receptionist who left because she said she couldn’t cope with the workload and that it was too busy.

“Here as a team we support one another, if there is a problem we will help each other but I don’t think it is the same everywhere. I am very concerned about the futures of GPs.”

Dr Swinyard has his own way to relax after a long day.

“I play Beethoven on the piano which always lifts my spirits, everyone doctor needs an outlet which can help them deal with work stress,” he said.

Mind’s chief executive Paul Farmer said: “These figures paint a worrying picture, suggesting that levels of stress among primary care staff are having a real impact on both their mental and physical wellbeing.

“We need to make sure that healthcare professionals are well and supported, so they can provide the best care for their patients.

"It needs to be OK for primary care staff to talk about it. Like anyone else, they need and deserve support.”