Doctors get armbands to show hours worked

DOCTORS will this week be given armbands to identify the number of hours they have been working in an effort to tackle SA’s fatigued doctors’ crisis and understaffed hospitals.

The South African Medical Association (Sama) launched the campaign at the weekend and is set to roll out the armbands at public and private practices this week.

Doctors will wear coloured armbands to show how long they have been on call. A green armband indicates the doctor has worked less than 24 consecutive hours, orange indicates more than 24 hours but less than 30 hours, and red more than 30 consecutive hours.

A doctor with a red armband is a potential risk and should be allowed to rest, Sama says.

The campaign is not only aimed at making it easier for people to identify doctors who have worked longer hours, it is a visible reminder that more doctors are needed in the medical industry.

The excessive hours doctors work came under the spotlight recently after overworked junior doctors called for new regulations following the death of Cape Town intern Ilne Markwat, 25, who died in a car crash after she allegedly fell asleep behind the wheel after working a very long shift.

Interns work shifts of up to 30 hours or more.

Last month, the provincial health department reduced the working hours of junior doctors to 24-hour shifts as opposed to the 30-hours required by the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA).

Sama chairman Dr Mzukisi Grootboom said: “We cannot continue with a situation where doctors are putting in 10, 15 or even 20 hours extra per shift to the detriment of their patients and their own health, while vacancies are not filled. If this status quo is not reversed we will unfortunately have an increased risk of incidents involving tired doctors. The issue needs urgent attention.”

He said the armband campaign was an important tool to identify doctors who had gone beyond reasonable hours: “But it is also a reminder that we need more doctors in our country.”

Sama vice-chairman Mark Sonderup said patients had a right to know how many hours their doctors had worked.

lisa.isaacs@inl.co.za