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03
Jul 2018
Exhausted doctors putting patients’ lives at risk
Medics have warned that doctors working shifts of more than 12 hours are putting lives at risk, that longer hours mean they are 27% more likely to make a mistake, and that they have the same level of concentration and judgement as someone who is inebriated.
A similar study on nurses, revealed at the recent British Medical Association conference, found that mistakes tripled in shifts of 12 hours when compared to eight hours.
The research found that staff working under these conditions are unaware their skills are impaired.
Doctors have said they should be permitted to refuse cover shifts if they deemed it unsafe, and proposed a motion expressing serious concerns about the amount of doctors suffering from burnout related to an unsafe burden of workload.
Council Chairman of the BMA, Dr Chaand Nagpaul, said “If there are issues around concerns about safety the first thing you must do is report it and try and put it in writing.
“You need to do those things before any further action. You give your employer the opportunity to put that right. That should be the first thing you do.”
Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence compensation claims, and have obtained substantial compensation for our clients. Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.
If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.
Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
Freephone : 0800 304 738
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