GMC issues warning over doctors’ working patterns

NHS patient care quality could be put at risk by the overly arduous working patterns to which many young doctors are conforming, according to the General Medical Council (GMC).

The industry body made this claim after carrying out a survey into the impact of the Working Time Regulations, which were intended to improve health and safety by restricting doctors' hours.

Based on the view of 82 trainee doctors, the GMC concluded that although the legislation had resulted in hours being lessened, it has produced an increase in shift work, which means some are still working nearly 100 hours a week during their busiest shifts.

Meanwhile, others said they had less time to manage their workload due to badly designed and understaffed rotas, leaving many feeling fatigued or stressed.

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the GMC, said: "We must never go back to the ridiculous hours worked in the past when patients were routinely put at risk by exhausted young doctors, but the current system is too complex."

The British Medical Association concurred with the conclusions of the report, suggesting a move to a consultant-based system of delivering healthcare services would be beneficial.