Senior doctors have warned Scotland is at risk of losing a significant amount of its NHS workforce as wellbeing hits “crisis point”.
The Scottish Government has been warned urgent action is required to address stress, anxiety and burnout amongst the medical workforce.
The research from the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS) found that 66% of doctors surveyed in Scotland reported experiencing burnout or are currently living with its effects.
Leaders from Royal Colleges, the British Medical Association (BMA) and MDDUS are demanding a preventative approach ahead of May’s Scottish Parliament elections.
The report, titled Wellbeing by Design, warns that Scotland faces losing experienced clinicians, and undermining patient safety, without decisive action.
Last year, a survey from the General Medical Council (GMC) found a third of Scottish doctors were considering leaving the profession, while more than half of doctors in training were at moderate to high risk of burnout.
Medical experts warn the current approach only intervenes to address burnout once a doctor is forced to take time off work with sickness.
The union surveyed 2,010 of its members in November 2025.
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Chris Kenny, chief executive of MDDUS, said: “The politicians responsible for funding and overseeing our health service must recognise that the current system lacks the structures needed to protect staff and support safe practice.
“The wellbeing of doctors is inseparable from the wellbeing of patients. This report sets out practical changes that could begin to address a crisis that is now affecting the sustainability of care across Scotland. We’re offering politicians a blueprint for change.”
Five recommendations are suggested, including commissioning a comprehensive national review of doctors’ wellbeing and its impact on patient safety.
The report also suggests setting and publishing a measurable national target to improve doctor wellbeing and reduce burnout, reported annually to parliament and guaranteeing safe workloads, predictable rotas and rest spaces.
Niall Dickson, the independent chair of the expert group, and former chief executive of the GMC, urged decision-makers to move away from a “crisis response”.
He added: “Without that shift, Scotland will continue to lose experienced clinicians and patients will feel the consequences.”
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Dr Iain Kennedy, chairman of BMA Scotland, said the government must also tackle the crisis within general practice, with GPs “starved of resources for years”.
He said: “Burnout, stress, ill-health and absence are being experienced far too often by doctors today, which not only results in lost working days and increased economic costs due to absenteeism and presenteeism, but also risks the loss of essential staff as doctors are forced to reduce their hours or leave the NHS altogether.”
The BMA in Scotland warned last year that two thirds of senior doctors said that work was harming their wellbeing.
In a separate study, it found nearly half – 49% - were struggling to cope and that their work was having a negative impact on their physical and mental wellbeing.
Dame Jackie Baillie, the health spokeswoman for Scottish Labour, said: “The truth is that Scotland’s health service has been utterly failed by this SNP government.
“The workforce is at breaking point, while experienced doctors and nurses are retiring early because of burnout and frustration with a broken system.
“Meanwhile, patients are facing agonising waits in emergency departments to get help, years to get hospital procedures, and many are now spending their life savings to go private.”
Health Secretary Neil Gray said the Scottish Government recognised the “tremendous pressures staff have been working under”.
“We are in close contact with health boards to ensure staff are not regularly working past their contracted hours and that long shifts remain rare occurrences.
“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.
“We provide more than £2.5 million through boards annually for national wellbeing programmes to support the mental health of our health workforce.”
Mr Gray added: “Over 2,000 doctors took part in the Future Medical Workforce project and the report made clear that planning for the future is not only about workforce numbers but about nurturing the profession to feel empowered and sustain fulfilling careers.
“Phase 2 of this project will turn these insights into action, working in partnership with the profession, with progress to be discussed at a parliamentary event in February.”
