Changes To Junior Doctors' Working Hours Could Put Patients At Risk
Our region's junior doctors say plans to make them work more hours for less could lead to deadly mistakes.
Our region's junior doctors say plans to make them work more hours for less could lead to deadly mistakes.
Ministers want want to increase the number of doctors working evenings and weekends, in order to make a more '24/7 NHS'.
But the British Medical Association say the new proposals class Saturdays and nights as normal working hours, meaning they won't get extra pay.
According to an online poll carried out by junior doctors, only 10 percent of doctors surveyed said they would continue to work under the new contracts.
Dr Jade Beeston from North Tees Hospital has told TFM doctors are already over-worked and more hours WILL have an impact on care.
She says patient safety will be put at risk if doctors are over-tired and are unable to perform as they should.
She said: "We already have to work stretches of 12 days in a row and several of those days will be 13 hour shifts.
"Towards the end of that we are completely exhausted.
"To make us work more hours than that and more days in a row than that wouldn't be safe for patients.
"Tired doctors make mistakes."
Jade is considering making the move abroad, where pressures on doctors are seen to be fewer, and she also worries that it could push people out of the profession for good.
Following a number of campaigns from junior doctors across the country, the British Medical Association have announced they're going to ballot their members on whether to take industrial action.
You can find a petition against the proposals HERE<>.