Heavily pregnant obstetrics trainees work 12-hour shifts

PREGNANT obstetrics trainees are working straight 12-hour shifts into the final weeks of their pregnancy while advising their patients to stay home and rest.

This startling finding highlighted in the latest edition of the Irish Medical Times comes a year after the implementation of the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) to provide a healthier workplace for medical staff and to protect patients from tired doctors.

According to the weekly magazine for Irish doctors, more than half of the salaries earned by many non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs) comes from overtime work.