80% of newly qualified doctors say they have enjoyed their first year, and over 60% say they are excited about their future careers, according to a survey by Medical Protection.

The snapshot survey of nearly 450 newly qualified doctors, who have completed one year of training, comes as thousands of new doctors are starting their careers on hospital wards.

When asked about their first year, nearly a third (32%) said they had found the experience better than they had expected, and despite struggling with heavy workloads, adjusting to shifts and lack of sleep, 79% still intend to be doctors.

The new doctors also highlighted a number of key challenges in dealing with patients. 85% said they found not having enough time to give patients the care they need most challenging. This was followed by managing unrealistic expectations (73%), the fear of being sued or complained about (27%), abusive or aggressive patients (26%), difficult conversations (26%) and competing with “Dr Google” (13%). 87% said they had experienced stress and anxiety in their first year.

Medical Protection, a not for profit membership organisation which provides thousands of newly qualified doctors with ethical and medicolegal advice, education tools and support with complaints, said more still needs to be done to support them through what are some of the most challenging years of a doctor’s life.

Dr Gordon McDavid, Medicolegal Adviser at Medical Protection, said: “It is encouraging to see so many young doctors feeling positive about their first year, and hopefully experiencing those rewarding moments when you know that despite the challenges, you’ve made a difference and becoming a doctor was the best decision you ever made.

“It is however a tough profession. The environment can prove emotionally and physically testing, and for some the reality of being a doctor may not match their expectations.

“In our survey, young doctors tell us they struggle with heavy workloads, long hours, lack of sleep, isolation and difficulties building working relationships due to frequent rotations. It is vital all new doctors seek support from their supervisors, and take care of their health.

“But they also point to other challenges from managing high patient expectations, self-diagnosing online and coping with aggressive behaviour, right through to handling difficult conversations such as informing relatives of the death of a loved one, and the fear of being sued or complained about.

“Over the coming weeks, a cohort of new junior doctors will be starting out on the wards, putting their training into practice. While there will be challenges, it is important to build an environment which allows them to succeed and harness the enthusiasm new doctors have. The right mix of support from clinical leaders, peers and managers can help prevent the loss of these hard-working and highly skilled doctors.”

ENDS