Abstract

Abstract Objective To explore how it feels to be a burnt out GP in the NHS. Design In depth qualitative interviews with 16 UK GPs with self-declared ‘lived experience’ of burnout. Setting United Kingdom Primary Care. Results Seven male and nine female GPs described their experiences of burnout to a peer researcher. Themes identified were exhaustion and depersonalisation, mental and physical illness, identity and existential crises, and finally tenacity and resilience. Participants were self-reflective and described distress, shame, stigma, and guilt, including times of suicidal behaviour and isolation due to their burnout. Conclusions Burnout threatens a GP’s sense of identity, purpose, and functioning in their lives, and ultimately can be life-threatening. Active listening to GP distress and a system wide approach to managing distress and burnout is urgently required. KEY MESSAGES GP burnout can have life threatening effects on physical, mental, and spiritual health, with long term health and social sequelae. Despite this, GPs describe resilience, tenacity, and a strong sense of ongoing vocation. Urgent systemic action is needed to listen to GPs with experience of burnout.