Doctors’ union calls for safe shift patterns

A NEW report by the Scottish Junior Doctors’ Committee of the BMA doctors’ union, entitled Shift-work, rest and sleep: minimising the risks, highlights the dangers of irregular shift patterns on health and performance. It says that doctors working shifts are more prone to health risks and sleep deprivation, which could have consequences for patient safety.

“Many rotas which are compliant with Working Time Regulations 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,” it says.

The union is calling on employers to encourage rest breaks during night shifts.

A copy of the report can be found at: www.bma.org.uk/sc/employmentandcontracts/working_arrangements/work_patterns/shiftwork.jsp?page=1