Tired doctors who work 12-hour shifts have the concentration and judgement of a drunk, medics have warned
The British Medical Association annual conference was told long hours increased the risk of mistakes by 27 per cent
DOCTORS are endangering lives because they are often so tired they act as if they were drunk, medics have warned.
Those who work 12-hour shifts have the concentration and judgement of someone who has been boozing, it is claimed.
The British Medical Association annual conference was told long hours increased the risk of mistakes by 27 per cent.
And nurses manning the wards for 12-hours or more make three-times as many blunders as those on duty for eight hours. To make matters worse, those affected have no idea when their performance was impaired, research suggests.
Delegates at the meeting, in Brighton, said a shortage of doctors meant many are burned out after working long hours. And they want to be able to walk out of NHS hospitals and GP surgeries when staffing levels are so low it is unsafe for patients.
Dr Satish Narang, proposing the idea, said: “Doctors should have a right to refuse to work under such unsafe working conditions and not be blamed for the system failure.”
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Dr Tim Micklewright added: “GPs are working to burnout to keep their doors open.” But others acknowledged it would be unworkable in practice and could make the situation for patients even worse.
The conference passed the motion as a “reference”, meaning it is supported in principle but will not become union policy. The BMA said is “abhorrent” that patients are being assessed and treated in hospital corridors after 6,000 beds were cut in four years.
Dr Robert Harwood, chair of the BMA consultants committee, said: “Having enough beds is integral to the smooth running of the NHS. Patients are already facing unacceptably long waits to be seen and the indignity of being treated in hospital corridors, and this is only set to get worse.”