‘Tired doctors like drunks’

TIRED doctors are risking lives in the same way as if they were drunk, medics have warned.

Those working over 12 hours have the same concentration and judgement as someone who is inebriated, they said.

Dr Satish Jayagopal, a surgeon from Salisbury, said those working these shifts are 27 per cent more likely to make a mistake than those working eight hours. Similarly, a study on nurses found that mistakes tripled when shifts increased from eight to 12 hours, the British Medical Association conference was told.

Dr Jayagopal said those working under such conditions had no idea their skills were impaired. Doctors also discussed a motion expressing concern about the numbers suffering burnout and stress from ‘unsafe workloads’.