How Compassion Fatigue Threatens Doctors and Other Healthcare Workers

UK Survey Results Are Alarming

A recent survey of over 2,000 doctors in the UK revealed that 78% of general practitioners and 65% of hospital doctors experience moral distress. 83% of respondents attributed this to current issues in the NHS system. The disconnect between the care doctors wish to provide and what the system allows can lead to serious consequences, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The most common stressors include lack of funding, long waiting times, shortages of beds and staff—all contributing to substandard care. 65% of doctors are troubled by preventable patient health problems due to poor living conditions. Due to mental exhaustion, 40% are considering leaving the profession or retiring early. 70% report that dissatisfaction at work affects their sleep, and 81% say it negatively impacts their mental health.

According to Dr. John Holden, chief medical officer at MDDUS, general practitioners are especially vulnerable. They are constantly exposed to patient suffering, often work in isolation, and receive little recognition. “The situation must not be underestimated—it threatens the resilience of already overwhelmed doctors,” warns Holden.

Compassion Fatigue on the Rise

One particularly troubling finding is that one in five doctors has considered self-harm or suicide, with 85% citing the impact of their job. 84% have experienced verbal abuse from patients, and 24% have faced physical assault. Two-thirds of doctors say their practices are “completely unprepared” for the strategic shift from hospital to community-based care.

The survey also showed an increase in compassion fatigue among healthcare workers, particularly young doctors. Nearly half of respondents fear that compassion fatigue increases the risk of medical errors, and three-fifths admit it affects their ability to communicate with patients.

When Compassion Drains You

Compassion fatigue has long existed but is only now receiving the attention it deserves. It’s generally described as the personal cost of caring and is also known as secondary or vicarious trauma—highlighting how others’ trauma can become the caregiver’s own.

How to Recognize Compassion Fatigue

This condition includes:

• Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
• Reduced empathy, emotional numbness, and detachment
• Exhaustion, loss of joy in work
• Sleep disturbances, difficulty concentrating, trouble making decisions
• Somatic issues—headaches, stomach problems
• Social withdrawal, neglecting self-care
• Increased use of addictive substances

How to Cope

• Recognize it
• Talk about it—sharing with colleagues helps
• Make time for recovery—exercise, relaxation, mindfulness
• Set boundaries—don’t take on too much
• Seek support—from professionals, peer groups, or loved ones

Is the Czech Republic Facing the Same Fate?

Given that the survey was conducted in the UK, the question arises: to what extent are Czech healthcare workers affected? Some still recall the advantages of the socialist healthcare system, once admired even abroad. Will Czech doctors follow the path of their UK counterparts, exhausted to the breaking point? Could the collapse of our healthcare system be imminent due to burnout among those we rely on for care?

Ignoring issues like healthcare workers’ mental health and moral competence can lead to catastrophic failures in patient care—or even self-harm among providers. The recent tragic death of medical psychologist Professor Radek Ptáček is a stark reminder of the consequences of underestimating this issue. It highlights the need to focus not only on systemic reforms but also on individual well-being.

Start Practicing Self-Care in Medical School

In an article for The Guardian, author Roland Bull emphasizes that medicine should not be equated with identity and that self-care is part of medical ethics—not a luxury. Medical students should learn self-care strategies early. The principle of *nihil nocere* (do no harm) should begin with the doctor, not just the patient.

Bull points out the paradox that medicine, while aiming to improve health, has long neglected the health of its practitioners. He notes that doctors sometimes behave as if they’ve transcended human limitations, fully merging with their profession, despite medicine being primarily grounded in scientific practice. But doctors must remember that they are human first. Burnout helps no one—and can even cause harm.

Editorial Team, Medscope.pro

Sources

1. Here’s what I learned in medical school – beyond the curriculum. The Guardian, 24 Dec 2024
2. Seven in 10 GPs in UK suffer from compassion fatigue, survey finds. The Guardian, 2 Jan 2025
3. Why are GPs more prone to compassion fatigue? Pulse, 10 Jan 2025
4. Most UK doctors experiencing moral distress, survey shows. MDDUS, 28 Dec 2023
5. Compassion fatigue: What it is and how to prevent it? Naše zdravotnictví, 28 Jun 2022