Irregular shifts affect juniors’ health

25 June 2010

SHIFT patterns must be improved to protect the health of junior doctors, a BMA report argues.

Patient safety could also be at risk because of poorly organised, irregular shifts. Hospitals have been forced to change their rotas to comply with the European Working Time Directive, but the BMA Scotland claims the end result is potentially dangerous.

They say many junior doctors are working a week of night shifts followed by another week of late shifts, with a day or two off in between. Some juniors are working rotas that include seven consecutive 12.5 hour nightshifts, they say.

The report claims: “It has become evident that poor rota design of [working time directive] 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.” It adds that runs of shifts in excess of 12 hours should be avoided.

Gordon Lehany, chair of the Scottish Junior Doctors Committee, said doctors should be involved in drawing up the rotas in future. “It is essential that the problems associated with working irregular shift patterns are recognised and reduced,” he said.

Read the report, Shift-work, Rest and Sleep: Minimising the Risks, here