Who wrote this drivel? Ah, that’s not in the public interest.

There are 13 745 medical and dental staff employed by NHS Scotland as of September 2019 of whom 576 are dental staff so around 13 000 doctors.

https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/NES-Publication/

There are 5 049 GPs in Scotland as of September 2019.

Click to access 2019-12-03-GPWorkforce2019-Summary.pdf

So, the BMA (a trades union not ‘doctors’ leaders’) survey was responded to by 800 out of around 18 000 or 4.4%. Remember this wasn’t even a structured sample designed by social scientists but just the 800 who were sufficiently bothered to respond because, presumably, they do feel stressed.

Of those 800, 77% felt their work had harmed their own health. Wow 77%! Headline figure! The Health Secretary must resign!

‘NO, wait’, says 15-year-old SQA Modern Studies project pupil, Jamie, at Dumbreck Academy, ‘That’s only 77% of the 800 or 616 and they are only 3.42% of the total population.’

Teacher: ‘How significant are the BBC/BMA findings, Jamie?’

Jamie: ‘They’re NO significant Mr Robertson. They’re pish!’

‘Language Jamie!’

‘Sorry Mr Robertson but remember that proper research frae New York Yooni showed that oor docs are less hard-worked or stressed than the wans in England?’

‘I do, it’s from 2015 but still useful, I think. On page 33 of your notes:’

The above come from a rigorous academic study carried out by professional researchers, not interested parties like the BBC, BMA or RCGP, at the Commonwealth Institute (USA): 

http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/in-the-literature/2015/dec/primary-care-physicians-in-ten-countries

I had to make a special request for the breakdown of the UK figures.