Growing workloads, longer hours and widespread staffshortages are causing extreme tiredness among medics , leading to memory problems and difficulty concentrating, according to the report by the Medical Defence Union (MDU), which provides legal support to about 200,000 doctors, nurses, dentists and other healthcare workers.
The survey of more than 500 doctors across the UK, carried out within the past month and seen by the Guardian, uncovered almost 40 near misses as a direct result of exhaustion. In at least seven cases, patients actually sustained harm.
Despite encouraging signs that the Omicron wave may be fading , doctors admitted the constant pressure of the past 22 months spent fighting Covid on the frontline was taking a toll on their technical skills and even their ability to make what should be straightforward medical decisions. Medics admitted for the first time that sleep deprivation was causing real harm to patients in the NHS.
This story is from the January 18, 2022 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 18, 2022 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Calvert-Lewin ruins title dreams of reckless Reds
The final Merseyside derby of Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool reign might well prove the final blow to his dream of saying goodbye with the Premier League title.
West Ham hold positive talks with Lopetegui
West Ham have held productive talks with the former Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui over replacing David Moyes this summer.
Fernandes inspires comeback win to ease pressure on Ten Hag
With 80 minutes gone Bruno Fernandes collected a Kobbie Mainoo pass and with a swish of his left foot fired a laser past Wes Foderingham and Manchester United were 3-2 ahead. The question, now, was could they at last hang on a lead.
Overton injury gives England headache for T20 World Cup
England have seen their selection for the T20 World Cup complicated by a back injury to Jamie Overton and now face an anxious two-week wait to discover the full extent of the allrounder's problem.
Raducanu struggles to find energy as she crashes out to qualifier
The great challenge of professional tennis is not just performing at a high level but doing so week after week, regardless of the conditions, for a sustained period of time.
How's stat? Why head-to-head battles only add to the rich tapestry of Test cricket drama
Let's start, as all bad pieces of writing should, with a cliche: cricket is an individual sport dressed as a team game. Every match comprises hundreds or thousands of contests between a batter and a bowler.
Designer labels owed millions after collapse of Matches
Designer brands including Gucci and Anya Hindmarch have been left millions of pounds out of pocket and some customers will not get refunds after online fashion site Matchesfashion collapsed owing more than £210m last month.
Bend it like the Mona Lisa? Yoga in Louvre to celebrate Paris Olympics
The Louvre museum in Paris is planning yoga and sport sessions in its galleries as part of a city-wide cultural programme before this summer's Olympics.
Spears taken by Captain Cook returned to Aboriginal owners
Four spears stolen from Kamay, now known as Botany Bay in Australia, by Captain James Cook and his crew have been returned to their traditional owners after more than 250 years.
Idaho's abortion rules too tough to comply with federal health law, supreme court told
The US supreme court faced its second judgment on abortion rights in the space of a month yesterday, as judges prepared to rule whether the state of Idaho's tough rules on the procedure breached a federal law.