Our junior doctors are so exhausted they can’t drive home safely, warns BMA
Risk of ‘accident’ DOUBLES near the end of 12-hour shifts
PATIENTS are being put at risk of ‘medical error’ because doctors are so exhausted they cannot even drive home safely at the end of the shift, according to an alarming report.
It warns some junior doctors are left so fatigued by long and gruelling hours that there is an increased risk of mistakes.
The research by the British Medical Association (BMA) sparked demands last night for changes to rotas and even for beds to be provided in hospitals to allow doctors to get some sleep after shifts, rather than getting behind the wheel as they head home.
In 2011, junior doctor Lauren Connelly, 23, was killed after her car veered off the M8 as she drove home from a 12-hour night-shift at Inverclyde Royal Hospital in Greenock.
‘Many are now suffering from pandemic fatigue’
The report, which found three-quarters of junior doctors were ‘exhausted’ at work to ‘a very high or high degree’ will raise concerns over whether lessons have been learned from the tragedy.
It is just the latest evidence of an
NHS in crisis, with pre-pandemic problems now exacerbated by
Covid-19 – including a huge backlog of hospital appointments, long ambulance waits and thousands of staff at risk of burnout.
The BMA Scotland report, Supporting Junior Doctor Wellbeing, reveals the impact this is having on medics. It also cites a General Medical Council study that found the risk of an ‘accident’ doubled towards the end of a 12-hour shift, compared to an eight-hour one.
Doctors are now calling for a maximum of four consecutive long shifts – ten hours or more – and a rota ‘that mitigates against fatigue... to prevent medical error’.
The SNP Government released its NHS Recovery Plan to try to get the health service back on track in summer. But doctors say the report does not feature any plan to retain staff or build the workforce.
Dr Neil Ramsay, deputy chairman of BMA Scotland’s junior doctors’ committee, said:
‘Junior doctors are feeling burnt out and exhausted, as our report highlighted.
There is no doubt the impact of staff absences, winter pressures and increasing Covid cases driven by the Omicron variant are making this worse. ‘Workload, long hours and covering for staffing gaps at extremely short notice play a huge part in this and many are suffering from pandemic fatigue.
‘But this is also a problem that precedes Covid-19 and it must be addressed urgently as part of the Scottish Government’s workforce plan.’ Last night, the Government faced calls to better protect patients from the impact of exhausted doctors.
Dr Sandesh Gulhane, Conservative health spokesman, said: ‘Even before the pandemic, the BMA were warning junior doctors were under unsustainable pressure.
‘NHS staff have gone above and beyond over the past two years and my colleagues on the front line are exhausted. Not only does this have real consequences for the mental and physical health of junior doctors, but these levels of exhaustion impact the quality of patient care.’
Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour health spokesman, added: ‘These alarming reports cut to the heart of the crisis our NHS is facing. For months, staff have been working tirelessly but it is simply not sustainable. This level of exhaustion is dangerous for staff and patients.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Doctors and other NHS staff have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic and we know the toll it has taken on them.
‘It is critical staff look after their wellbeing. This is why we are funding measures to help, including a 24/7 National Wellbeing Helpline and additional local psychological support.’