The General Medical Council (GMC) has issued a stark warning that junior doctor burnout in obstetrics and gynaecology is creating a critical risk for maternity patients. The regulator highlighted that trainees in this specialty are experiencing higher levels of exhaustion and are more hesitant to raise safety concerns than their peers in other medical fields.
Survey reveals critical safety gaps
The GMC based its findings on the 2026 national training survey, which was completed by 68% of trainee doctors, representing nearly 52,000 individuals. The data showed that almost one in three trainees in obstetrics and gynaecology felt apprehensive about approaching a senior colleague with a patient concern. This figure stands in contrast to one in five across all other medical specialties.
Furthermore, 70% of these trainees were classified as being at moderate to high risk of burnout, compared to 61% across the wider medical workforce. One in three reported regular sleep deprivation, a rate significantly higher than the one in five average seen in other specialties.
Charlie Massey, head of the GMC, emphasized that the inability of staff to voice concerns is a major threat to patient welfare. He told the BBC that failures in workplace culture and leadership are frequently at the root of medical incidents. “Creating environments where staff are supported, listened to and feel able to raise concerns is essential,” Massey said.
Author and former doctor highlights systemic failures
Adam Kay, a former doctor who left the profession in 2010 and later wrote the bestselling memoir “This is going to hurt,” described the report as miserable reading. He noted that the situation for current trainees mirrors his own experiences, where support for staff following traumatic events was virtually non-existent.
Kay pointed out that many doctors in the field are currently planning exit strategies, considering moves to part-time work, other countries, or entirely different industries such as pharmaceuticals. He argued that while maternity work is inherently high-pressure, the current lack of staffing and poor culture are preventable issues.
“You should be able to speak to your boss. You should be able to go and take a break and go for a cup of tea or a wee, and that is not the case at the moment,” Kay said. He added that the number of staff on wards is lower than ever, leaving doctors overstretched and unable to provide the care they wish to deliver.
Government and professional bodies respond
Dr Kat Barton, chair of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) National Trainee Committee, stated that workplace issues directly impact the quality of care women receive. She called on the government to invest in safe staffing levels at all tiers, protect training time, and support staff wellbeing.
In response, a spokesperson for the Department for Health and Social Care said that ensuring every maternity unit meets the highest standards is a top priority. The department noted that all NHS trusts are now required to have a dedicated Freedom to Speak Up Guardian to help staff raise concerns about workload or patient safety.
The spokesperson also highlighted that there is now a record number of midwives working in the NHS, with over 600 added in the past year. The Secretary of State has made maternity services a personal priority, chairing a Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce to address the concerns raised by staff and families.
Despite the negative findings, the survey indicated that trainees were relatively positive about the mechanisms for reporting patient safety incidents and near misses. However, the overarching message from the GMC and professional bodies remains that a supportive culture is just as vital as clinical skill in ensuring safe maternity care.
Source: BBC
