Response to GMC 2026 Workplace Experiences Report

The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (the “College”) welcomes the latest GMC report on workplace experiences across the UK medical profession. The findings show that, after two years of improvement, progress remains fragile, with several measures of doctors’ workplace experiences declining. The continuing pressures facing the medical workforce are deeply concerning, both for doctors’ wellbeing and for their ability to provide high-quality, safe patient care.

The College is particularly concerned that 41% of doctors report difficulty providing sufficient patient care at least once a week, rising to 60% of GPs. Inadequate staffing, heavy workloads, administrative pressures and delays to care remain significant barriers. The finding that only one in five doctors believes that care is effectively coordinated between primary and secondary settings further demonstrates the need to address systemic pressures across health services.

The College welcomes evidence that local improvements can make a positive difference, including better workforce planning, improved processes and the appropriate use of technology to reduce administrative burdens and release more time for patient care. However, local innovation cannot substitute for sustained action to address workforce capacity, improve coordination between services and ensure doctors have the time and support they need to deliver good care.

Commenting, Professor Mark Strachan, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, said:

“This report provides further evidence that the pressures facing doctors are not simply workforce issues: they have direct consequences for patient care. When four in ten doctors regularly find it difficult to provide the level of care their patients need, we must recognise this as a serious warning for the sustainability of our health services.

“We are particularly concerned about the experiences of doctors at the beginning of their careers and those responsible for training them. Governments and NHS leaders must ensure that doctors have credible opportunities to progress, while trainers need sufficient protected time and capacity to educate and support the next generation.

“There are encouraging examples of improvements being made locally, including better use of technology and more effective ways of working. These demonstrate that change is possible. The priority now must be to spread effective practice while tackling the underlying pressures of staffing, workload and fragmented care.

“The College continues to call for coordinated, long-term workforce planning across the UK, with investment in medical education and training and action to improve doctors’ working environments. Supporting doctors to do their jobs well is fundamental to delivering the safe, high-quality care that patients deserve.”