‘Doctors behave like drunks after working 12-hour shifts’

WORKING 12-hour shifts makes doctors “behave as if they are drunk”, the BMA conference has been told.

In a motion on overwork, doctors in Hackney, East London, said: “The doctors tested had no idea their judgement was impaired.

“Likewise with nurses, when shifts are increased from 8-12 hours, mistakes are increased by 200%.”

The motion called for the NHS to DANGER Overworked doctors tackle burnout and stress levels among overworked doctors. Dr Vijoy Singh said: “The NHS stands out alone as a major institution that does very little to support the workers from whom, under extreme stress, it requires elite performance.” The conference voted to support doctors’ right to walk out of work if they thought staffing unsafe. Surgeons are 10% more likely to drink heavily than other workers, a Dutch study has revealed.