Doctors' erratic shifts may affect patient care

DOCTORS who work erratic shifts could be having a negative impact on patient care, a leading medical organisation has said.

A study by Edinburgh-based British Medical Association Scotland showed doctors on shifts are more prone to health risks and sleep deprivation.

The hours of junior doctors is a hot topic in medical circles, with recent guidelines from Europe stating they are not allowed to work more than 48 hours in a week.

Some departments in the Lothians and Scotland have struggled to cope with that demand, because juniors fill important shifts which would otherwise be tricky to cover.

Now the report, by the Junior Doctors Committee, has called on health chiefs and managers to develop safe rotas which encourage rest breaks, citing the dangers of sleep deprivation.