NEARLY a third of doctors in Scotland have cried at work over the past three months in a sign of a system under “severe strain,” a medics’ organisation warned today.

Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS) research found that of the 333 doctors it surveyed, two-thirds had either experienced or are currently experiencing burnout, 59 per cent were currently experiencing stress and work, and 34 per cent reported facing workplace anxiety.

The survey also showed workplace stress was such that 29 per cent of doctors had cried at work.

MDDUS chief executive Chris Kenny said: “Doctors crying at work is a warning sign of a system under severe strain.

“These are highly trained professionals being pushed beyond sustainable limits by relentless pressure and workloads that raise serious concerns about safety.

“When one-third of doctors say they are crying because they feel overwhelmed, burnt out and exhausted, it should prompt urgent reflection on how our health service is designed and staffed.”

The research comes hot on the heels of MDDUS’s Wellbeing by Design report, which called on all parties at May’s Holyrood elections to make doctor wellbeing a non-negotiable requirement of NHS workforce planning amid warnings that burnout had reached levels that put workforce sustainability and patient safety at risk.

A Scottish government spokesperson: “We recognise the tremendous pressures staff have been working under and are extremely grateful for their continued efforts in the face of sustained demand.

“We appreciate the work done by MDDUS to raise concerns and advocate for our workforce.

“We will carefully consider this report and continue working with boards to ensure they create environments where staff wellbeing is protected, and staff feel valued and supported.”