Junior doctors given shift relief

‘Colleagues in other provinces were yet to reap the benefit’

FROM next year junior doctors in the province will no longer be required to work 30-hour shifts to be accredited, Health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo announced yesterday.

The reduction in continuous working hours for medical interns from 30- to 24-hour shifts comes amid growing calls from overworked junior doctors demanding new regulations on their working hours.

In June, the Health Professions Council of SA resolved that the maximum working hours for interns be reduced from 30 to 26 hours

In June, Paarl Hospital intern Ilne Markwat, 25, was killed in a car crash after she allegedly fell asleep behind the wheel after working a long shift. The driver of the car, Kraaifontein resident Carol Mostert, 45, died in the Tygerberg Hospital’s intensive-care unit after the collision on the N1 near Klapmuts.

Her death caused outrage among doctors, who spoke about the impact long hours had on their lives.

Yesterday, Mbombo said they had heard the pleas from young doctors and a new plan will be implemented from January 1.

“Together we have come up with a solution, which we are busy implementing, where their hours will no longer exceed a 24-hour shift.”

In consultation with the South African Medical Association and the Junior Doctors Association, it has been stipulated that junior doctors in Western Cape public hospitals, interns, will work only 24-hour shifts.

Young doctors blamed the Western Cape Department of Health and the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA) for allowing interns to work shifts of up to 30 hours or even longer. Mbombo said the solution was reached through consultation with their higher education partners.

“Remember it is the national Health Department, together with the HPCSA, that together come up with these hours. The 30 hours is part of the requirement, but… we can do something, we do not have to wait.”

Mbombo said while the issue of working hours was being determined through the HPCSA and the Health Department, the provincial department could not wait.

“Whatever they will end up deciding on at that time, we will see, but for now as a province we have to do something.”

Junior Doctors Association (Judas) chair Zahid Badroodien said it was not a victory for all doctors as their colleagues in other provinces were yet to reap the benefit of hours being adjusted in accordance with best practice.

“We call upon the national Health Department and other provincial departments to follow suit and recognise that the mental and physical stresses of our high-demand occupation, especially after inhumane working hours, requires urgent redress.”

Badroodien acknowledged there would be some respite in way of ensuring that the mental and physical wellbeing of junior doctors was protected, with a resultant improvement of patient care.

HPCSA spokesperson Priscilla Sekhonyana said: “The medical and Dental Board, at its meeting held on 26 July, 2016, resolved that the maximum working hours for interns be reduced from 30 to 26 hours. The HPCSA welcomes this as long as services to the public will not be hampered.”

Health Department spokesperson Joe Maila was approached for comment, but did not respond before deadline.