Survey reveals gender divide in burnout, stress among doctors

October 28, 2026 — 4:51pmFemale GPs are seeing more patients with complex psychosocial and health needs, and spending longer consulting than their male colleagues, a report has found, with women in general practice experiencing higher rates of burnout and stress related to work-life balance.Over 3,500 practising, non-practising and in-training GPs were surveyed for the latest Health of the Nation report, published by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners on Wednesday.The report found mental health continued to be the number one reason patients sought care, a trend that first emerged in 2017.AMA Queensland chair and Brisbane-based doctor Maria Boulton with her son. Two thirds of GPs said they were spending more time with patients due to the “increasing complexity of health concerns”, with an average time per patient of 19.8 minutes in 2026, compared to 19.7 minutes in 2025 and 17.7 minutes in 2022.The report noted this had a greater impact on female GPs. Women spent 21 minutes on average with patients compared to just under 18 minutes for male GPs, and tended to see people with more complex psychosocial, mental health and women’s health issues.Dr Cath Hester said female GPs are impacted by the complexity of patient concerns and tend to spend longer consulting. Colleges Crossing Family Practice RACGP Queensland chair Dr Cath Hester said the preference for female doctors was influenced by “cultural reasons”, but overall, spoke to the importance of developing strong relationships with patients.“People feel more comfortable to confide mental health conditions or other sensitive information, like maybe domestic violence, with somebody who they know,” Hester said.“That can be a male GP or a female GP. But we also know female patients tend to prefer female GPs, and that they are more likely to consult their GPs on more complicated health conditions.“I do think there are cultural reasons [for that].”Hester has treated patients at a small clinic in the Brisbane suburb of Karana Downs for more than 10 years. She said complex concerns took longer to address, and federal policy should acknowledge the disproportionate impact this has on women.“One of the things that we’re calling on the federal government for is to review the time-tiered payment for a GP to help fund those longer consultations … which female GPs predominantly provide,” Hester said.“Unfortunately, women are suffering the consequences [of the current system] and earn less than male GPs on average.”RACGP president Dr Michael Wright said the report shone a light on the structural gender bias and misogyny embedded in Australia’s Medicare system.“Female GPs are playing a critical role delivering complex care across our health system, particularly in mental health, preventive healthcare and women’s health, but the Medicare system has not kept pace with the reality of modern general practice,” he said. “That must change.”The Health of the Nation report noted that, for the first time, female GP satisfaction was found to be lower than male GPs, and women reported higher rates of burnout and trouble maintaining work-life balance.AMA Queensland chair Dr Maria Boulton, a Brisbane-based GP, said women juggled complex patient needs with other gendered responsibilities, including raising children and caring for ageing parents.“The most challenging part for me [was] being a mum and being in the ‘sandwich generation’,” Boulton said.“There was a time [in my career] when I had a young toddler and had a father who was terminal with cancer, and it was such a stressful time.”Taking time off to care for family created a “moral stress of having to let patients down”, Boulton said, and it was often difficult to strike a balance between work-life responsibilities.“It’s no wonder burnout happens,” she said, adding that the workforce, particularly in Brisbane and Queensland, was already stretched.“We need to really protect the workforce … we can’t afford to be losing anyone to burnout – doctors, nurses – we are short already.”Almost nine in 10 GPs are managing conditions that non-GP specialists typically treat, the report found, and most are seeing concerns typically treated in a hospital emergency department.Despite the demand, fewer people reported they waited longer than it felt acceptable to see a GP, and more than half the population were able to access urgent medical care from a GP within 24 hours.Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.More:Doctors at workHealthcareMedicareMental healthFrom our partners