Many Irish GPs are under major stress, which could affect their judgment and lead to mistakes being made, doctors have warned.

According to a new survey of over 450 GPs, 95% admitted to experiencing work-related stress in the last 12 months. The leading cause of this stress was increased patient expectations, followed by an increasing risk of litigation and heavy workloads.

Almost one-third of those surveyed admitted that they had questioned their careers as a result of the stress they were under.

Some 80% of the doctors said that work stress had affected their personal lives, while 79% said it had affected their health and wellbeing. Meanwhile 60% admitted that stress had affected their empathy towards patients and 56% said it had affected their concentration.

According to Dr Rob Hendry, medical director of the Medical Protection Society (MPS), which carried out the survey, stress and burnout can affect a doctor's concentration, judgement and productivity and this can lead to mistakes being made.

"Even a relatively minor error can be devastating for all those concerned, undermining the doctor-patient relationship and potentially disrupting a doctor's career," he noted.

He said that it is essential that GPs who are feeling stressed ‘get help early'.

"Being open with colleagues and seeking support from healthcare professionals is vital," Dr Hendry insisted.

Meanwhile, according to GP and author, Dr Mark Rowe, it is ‘no surprise' that GPs are prone to stress and burnout.

"GPs face a number of specific challenges on a daily basis, including increasing patient expectations, the risk of litigation and complaints, dealing with chronic illness, pressure to keep knowledge up to date, an unstable regulatory environment and long hours," he pointed out.

Dr Rowe will be discussing this issue at the MPS's third annual General Practice Conference, which takes place in Dublin later this month.