GPs are so busy they are peeing in their consultation room sinks

GPs are peeing in their sinks because they are too busy to run to the loo.

They are struggling to cope with up to 70 patients a day — 45 more than guidelines.

Many skip lunch and claim they cannot spare 43 seconds to fill a water bottle or boil a kettle for a cuppa.

Wellbeing speaker Dr Helen Garr told a Royal College of GPs conference in Liverpool: “Up to 80 per cent of doctors in a recent survey reported high levels of burnout.

“I did this talk once and a lovely GP told me, ‘Do you know what? I once had to phone the caretaker to come because I was so short on time, I peed in my sink and it fell off the wall’.

“I like to see we laugh but we can all identify with that.”

Dr Garr added: “If we don’t have 43 seconds in our day we all need to go and work in Asda.”

Joyce Robins, of Patient Concern, said: “Patients will be horrified to learn their doctor is urinating in the sink. It is un­hygienic and unpleasant.

“I’m sure people would happily wait an extra minute or two.”

GPs retiring early due to stress and the UK’s ageing population has added to pressures.

Some patients face a three-week wait, with appointments lasting an average of nine minutes.

College chair Helen Stokes-Lampard said many GPs worked unsafe hours and were worried this was affecting patients.

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