HEALTH Over-tired medics ‘risking their lives’

TRAINEE doctors say tiredness is a “huge problem” and has led many to experience an accident or near-miss when driving home.

Thousands of NHS junior doctors working in anaesthesia across the UK took part in a survey about effects of fatigue on their working lives.

More than half said they had been involved an accident or nearmiss when driving home after a night shift.

The findings of the survey, published in the journal Anaesthesia, also revealed that many trainees had fallen asleep at the wheel and been woken by rumble strips on the road.

The study, entitled “A national survey of the effects of fatigue on trainees in anaesthesia in the UK”, found that many of the 2,231 respondents reported having accidents ranging from minor bumps and scrapes to their car being written off.

One of the authors, Dr Laura McClelland, specialist trainee in anaesthesia at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, described how trainees frequently risk their lives travelling home from a night shift.

She said: “Fatigue among shiftworking doctors is a huge problem. By minimising the likelihood and impact of tiredness, the safety of patients, doctors and the general public will be better protected.

“We have a collective duty to ensure that doctors are allowed to rest adequately in order to promote wellbeing and ensure they perform optimally both within their clinical environment and when travelling between shifts.”

Multiple adverse incidents were also reported in the survey by cyclists and walkers, and nearly nine out of 10 trainees used caffeine as a stimulant to counteract the effects of fatigue.

Chairwoman of the Group of Anaesthetists in Training at the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI) Dr Emma Plunkett said: “This report highlights the need for action to address the widespread impact of fatigue and shift working on the lives of anaesthetic trainees.

“Rest facilities for doctors working nights are often not available either during or between shifts and even when they are, many trainees are unaware of them or do not use them.

“As a result of this study, the AAGBI is working to raise awareness of the importance of good sleep habits and strategies to help doctors manage working night shifts.

“We want departments to work with doctors to find ways to create suitable facilities, and to promote the use of those available. We have put together a package of resources to help with this.”

Dr Mike Farquhar, consultant in sleep medicine at the Evelina London Children’s Hospital, said the survey “paints a stark picture of how prevalent fatigue is among those our system depends upon; how high a toll it exacts, both professionally and personally.”

He said: “The NHS is characterised by employees who will willingly give of themselves and work in excess of what they are formally expected to, but we must acknowledge that this attitude can jeopardise performance, and also challenge the culture that permits it – particularly when, as so often, critical decisions are at stake.

He added: “Addressing challenge is difficult.

“At Evelina London, practical steps, including mandatory teaching at induction on sleep and shiftworking, and a Trust-wide campaign on the importance of breaks, are beginning to change the way we must think about fatigue to deliver effective, efficient NHS care safely for both patients and staff.” that