Menu
25/05/2010
Doctors Shifts May Endanger Patients
Doctors who work shifts are more prone to health risks and sleep deprivation, which could have detrimental effects on patient safety, a BMA Scotland report said today.
The report, produced by the BMA's Scottish Junior Doctors Committee (SJDC), highlights the dangers of irregular shift patterns on health and performance and makes a series of recommendations to reduce these dangers.
Shift-work, Rest and Sleep: Minimising the Risks, calls on employers to develop safe rotas for staff and to encourage rest breaks during night shifts to ensure that patient safety is protected.
Many juniors work a combination of shifts, for example, a week of night shifts followed by another week of late shifts with a day or two off in between.
Whilst this pattern of shifts would be compliant with the European Working Time Directive (EWTD), the report argues that such long periods of unsociable hours can have serious implications for the health and wellbeing of doctors, and as a result, affect patient care.
The report said: "Due to a range of pressures, most recently the adoption of the EWTD into UK law, there has been a change from a traditional 24-hour resident-on-call pattern for junior doctors to a more regimented shift pattern, with the express aim of protecting employees from excessive work without adequate rest….However it has become evident that poor rota design of WTR-compliant shift patterns may also result in a shift structure predisposed to high-intensity work that may lead to fatigue and may carry unacceptable burdens of risk to doctors and patients."
The report stated that the key to good rota design is to avoid excessive out of hours working for individuals: "Many rotas which are compliant with New Deal and working time regulations (WTR) on paper may in fact lead to considerable predictable fatigue in the doctors who work those rotas.
"For example, there are juniors who are working rotas which include seven consecutive 12.5 hour nightshifts."
Dr Gordon Lehany, Chair of the SJDC said: "There is growing awareness of the dangers of sleep deprivation on performance as well as the health risks associated with irregular shift work.
"In the case of junior doctors, their working arrangements can be detrimental not just to their own health, but to patient care.
"It is important that as NHS boards try to become compliant with European Working Time Regulations they also consider safe shift working patterns. To do this effectively, junior doctors should be involved in drawing up rotas.
"It is essential that the problem associated with working irregular shift patterns are recognised and reduced," he said.
(BMcC/GK)
The report, produced by the BMA's Scottish Junior Doctors Committee (SJDC), highlights the dangers of irregular shift patterns on health and performance and makes a series of recommendations to reduce these dangers.
Shift-work, Rest and Sleep: Minimising the Risks, calls on employers to develop safe rotas for staff and to encourage rest breaks during night shifts to ensure that patient safety is protected.
Many juniors work a combination of shifts, for example, a week of night shifts followed by another week of late shifts with a day or two off in between.
Whilst this pattern of shifts would be compliant with the European Working Time Directive (EWTD), the report argues that such long periods of unsociable hours can have serious implications for the health and wellbeing of doctors, and as a result, affect patient care.
The report said: "Due to a range of pressures, most recently the adoption of the EWTD into UK law, there has been a change from a traditional 24-hour resident-on-call pattern for junior doctors to a more regimented shift pattern, with the express aim of protecting employees from excessive work without adequate rest….However it has become evident that poor rota design of WTR-compliant shift patterns may also result in a shift structure predisposed to high-intensity work that may lead to fatigue and may carry unacceptable burdens of risk to doctors and patients."
The report stated that the key to good rota design is to avoid excessive out of hours working for individuals: "Many rotas which are compliant with New Deal and working time regulations (WTR) on paper may in fact lead to considerable predictable fatigue in the doctors who work those rotas.
"For example, there are juniors who are working rotas which include seven consecutive 12.5 hour nightshifts."
Dr Gordon Lehany, Chair of the SJDC said: "There is growing awareness of the dangers of sleep deprivation on performance as well as the health risks associated with irregular shift work.
"In the case of junior doctors, their working arrangements can be detrimental not just to their own health, but to patient care.
"It is important that as NHS boards try to become compliant with European Working Time Regulations they also consider safe shift working patterns. To do this effectively, junior doctors should be involved in drawing up rotas.
"It is essential that the problem associated with working irregular shift patterns are recognised and reduced," he said.
(BMcC/GK)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
17 February 2015
Plans Announced To Make Young People Work For Benefits
The Prime Minister has announced a proposal for 18 to 21-year-olds claiming benefits to do daily work experience. The proposed reform, known as Community Work Programme, would see young people not in work, education or training, required to complete daily work experience, alongside continuing to look for work in order to qualify for benefits.
Plans Announced To Make Young People Work For Benefits
The Prime Minister has announced a proposal for 18 to 21-year-olds claiming benefits to do daily work experience. The proposed reform, known as Community Work Programme, would see young people not in work, education or training, required to complete daily work experience, alongside continuing to look for work in order to qualify for benefits.
18 September 2009
BMA Highlight Junior Doctors Shortage
A shortage of younger doctors is putting a strain on the health service. The British Medical Association (BMA) has uncovered Department of Health data which suggests that junior doctor staffing rotas in the UK were short by almost 3,000. The figures relate to the period up to the end of 2008 and the BMA fears this problem has got worse.
BMA Highlight Junior Doctors Shortage
A shortage of younger doctors is putting a strain on the health service. The British Medical Association (BMA) has uncovered Department of Health data which suggests that junior doctor staffing rotas in the UK were short by almost 3,000. The figures relate to the period up to the end of 2008 and the BMA fears this problem has got worse.
16 June 2003
More assistance needed for refugee doctors says BMA
The British Medical Association (BMA) has called for refugee doctors to be given more assistance to pass exams necessary for registration in UK. There are currently 865 refugee doctors on voluntary databases who want to work for the NHS, according to the BMA, and many are subsisting on state benefits of £37 per week.
More assistance needed for refugee doctors says BMA
The British Medical Association (BMA) has called for refugee doctors to be given more assistance to pass exams necessary for registration in UK. There are currently 865 refugee doctors on voluntary databases who want to work for the NHS, according to the BMA, and many are subsisting on state benefits of £37 per week.
04 November 2010
New Doctors 'Not To Work Beyond Training', Says BMA
The Co-Chair of the British Medical Association's Junior Doctors Committee has spoken out regarding Professor John Collins’ evaluation of the first two years of junior doctor training on The Foundation Programme.
New Doctors 'Not To Work Beyond Training', Says BMA
The Co-Chair of the British Medical Association's Junior Doctors Committee has spoken out regarding Professor John Collins’ evaluation of the first two years of junior doctor training on The Foundation Programme.
05 October 2011
Foreign Doctors 'Must Speak English'
From this week, doctors who want to practise in the NHS in England will have to prove they have a good standard of English. Before they are allowed to work, they will have to prove their ability to communicate. That's under strict new rules about to be imposed by the Health Secretary Andrew Lansley.
Foreign Doctors 'Must Speak English'
From this week, doctors who want to practise in the NHS in England will have to prove they have a good standard of English. Before they are allowed to work, they will have to prove their ability to communicate. That's under strict new rules about to be imposed by the Health Secretary Andrew Lansley.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:It will be cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, soon followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
