The Government ‘must act’ to address medical burnout the BMA has warned, as a GMC report today reveals doctors’ risk rate is unchanged from 12 months ago.

The association has said findings published in the medical regulator’s 2026 national training survey prove risk of burnout ‘remains rife – and is worsening for some’, adding the future of the medical workforce depended on those in power taking action.

Based on the responses of almost 75,000 doctors from across the UK, the survey reveals that 61 per cent of doctors in training and 47 per cent of doctors in trainer roles were at moderate to high risk of burnout.

Both sets of figures are unchanged from those reported to the GMC’s 2025 training survey, which bases questions on burnout on the internationally recognised Copenhagen Burnout Inventory.

In addition to the lack of overall change in rates of burnout, the survey also found that some parts of the medical profession were reporting higher levels of risk, with 38 per cent of GP trainers responding to the survey being calculated at moderate risk of burnout.

The survey, which ran between March and May this year, also finds that long-standing issues such as rota gaps remain a significant challenge in the health service.

While 52 per cent of doctors in training told the GMC the design of their rotas had benefited their education and development, 26 per cent of trainees and 29 per cent of trainers reported gaps in rotas were still ‘not being dealt with appropriately’, figures unchanged from last year’s survey.

Commenting on the survey findings, BMA council deputy chair Emma Runswick said that, while there were some small and cautiously encouraging findings in the report, the overall picture was one of a distinct lack of progress in tackling long-standing and fundamental problems facing doctors and the NHS.

She said: ‘Nine in 10 trainers of our future doctors say they enjoy the role. That's heartening. But goodwill stretches only so far in an understaffed NHS, and recent attempts to cut consultant pay for this work will only make matters worse.

‘Nearly three in 10 hospital or secondary-care trainers say gaps in doctors’ rotas go unaddressed and over a quarter of doctors can't use their training time as intended. Burnout remains rife – and is worsening for some, especially GPs. These doctors do one of the NHS's most vital jobs, often without the time or support to do it well.

‘Resident doctors fare no better. Six in 10 are at moderate or high risk of burnout. Reports of sexual harassment are rising and too many still fear the consequences of reporting discrimination. Doctors deserve training environments that are safe, not just survivable.’

Dr Runswick added: ‘The Government must act. Staffing shortages and workplace culture are holding back trainers and trainees alike – and the workforce of the future depends on fixing both.’

Despite the lack of progress on issues such as burnout, the GMC’s report does highlight some modest areas of improvement including on tackling discrimination in the workplace.

This includes 75 per cent of all doctors in training responding to the survey claiming that they were confident about their ability to report discrimination should it occur, a one percentage point improvement on last year.

Meanwhile 63 per cent state they believe they are able to report instances of discriminatory behaviour without fear of adverse consequences, a two percentage point increase on the 2025 survey.

• To read the report’s findings, visit the GMC website