Work-life imbalance has become 'normalised' in Irish hospitals

One specialist registrar said: "‘I feel tired and burnt out by the time I get home to see my wife and children. I don’t feel that I am being a good father at the moment." File picture.

Work–life imbalance has become "normalised" within Irish hospital medicine, according to a new study which sought the views of almost 1,000 medics.

The research, titled 'Hospital doctors in Ireland and the struggle for work–life balance' and published in the European Journal of Public Health, found many respondents felt burnt-out, with some saying they were in danger of falling asleep at the wheel as they returned home after a long shift while one respondent said: "I cry myself to sleep at least once a week because of the frustration and anger I feel at my job and because of the impact it has on every other aspect of my existence".