Working hours crisis costs junior doctors

Ireland risks losing some of its best young doctors unless the junior doctors working hours crisis is resolved.

That was the warning from leading medical academics at one of the country’s most advanced medical schools, which yesterday hosted an open day for teenagers.

Almost 100 transition year students and their teachers from all over Munster attended UCC’s School of Medicine’s Prep-for-Med, which aims to encourage them to consider pursuing a career in medicine.

They got an insight into life as a medical student by visiting UCC’s state-of-the- art anatomy lab, where they took blood samples, monitored blood pressure, performed CPR, and helped treat hi-tech human patient simulator Bob — one of only three robots of its kind in Ireland — recover from a cardiac arrest.

George Shorten, the dean of UCC’s School of Medicine, said he hoped the students would learn about the good and the bad associated with pursuing a career in medicine.

“There are difficulties,” said Prof Shorten. “It’s hard work, it’s long hours, and particularly, it’s dynamic.

“But there is genuine pleasure and fulfilment that comes from taking care of people and a community.”

The open day came after a week of controversy about non-consultant hospital doctors’ working hours.

An EU directive, introduced in 2004, dictated that workers in the EU should work no more than 48 hours per week.

But junior doctors warned that some are working 36-hour shifts in Irish hospitals, with some working more than 71 hours a week, resulting in severe exhaustion, stress, depression, and even suicide.

Siún O’Flynn, UCC’s head of medical education, said things need to change to ensure that the Irish health system recognises junior doctors as a valuable resource.

“It takes a certain kind of person to get into the course, to survive the course and to do well in medicine,” said Dr O’Flynn.

“There are a lot of downsides to this job. It is demanding and it takes resilience.

“But I can think of very few other things that are as rewarding.

“Ask a lot of people working in medicine would they do anything else, and I think the answer would be no.

“Working conditions are challenging but there are a lot of rewards and a lot of positives to this profession as well.

“You are let into people’s lives at a very vulnerable time and you can do a lot of good in this job.”

She said the onus is on senior medics, hospital management, and post-grad training bodies to address the issues.

Prep-for-Med organiser, UCC lecturer Bridget Maher, said that despite the challenges, today’s medical students are enthusiastic and passionate. “They are here because they want to be here, they want to study medicine,” said Dr Maher. “They are not disillusioned.

“We, as doctors, my community, my peers, we owe it to these kids to change things and to make life better for them, because when they are not tired, when they are working realistic working hours, and are not exhausted, as is their right as human beings, only then can patient care improve.”