Doctor burnout putting maternity patients at risk, says regulator

Training doctors working on maternity wards are experiencing high rates of burnout which could have a "critical impact" on patients, a regulator is warning.

The General Medical Council says the fully qualified doctors, who are still training in obstetrics and gynaecology, are reporting more feelings of overwork and sleep deprivation than similar trainees in any other field of medicine or surgery, and are also more wary of escalating concerns.

Author Adam Kay, who left medicine in 2010 after dealing with a traumatic birth incident, says the report "makes for miserable reading" and says "nothing has been done" to improve workplace culture.

The Department for Health and Social Care said ensuring every maternity unit "meets the highest standards" was a priority.

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Source: BBC News, 13 November 2026