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by cimmanom 2644 days ago
What if handovers are dangerous in large part because the outgoing shift members are fatigued to the point of intoxication?
1 comments

Take this for example - from the Guardian, a very left-wing newspaper that is normally about as far from arguing for longer hours for works as you can possibly get.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2009/nov/05/nhs-confiden...

> The report suggests the shorter working week is responsible for a lack of continuity in out-of-hours care

> shortening rota hours had led to more shift changes between medical teams and greater chances for mistakes to occur

> the early effects of the 48-hour European working time limit on surgeons and found that these new rotas had almost entirely removed adequate time for handover of sick patients

Also think about this - those doctors who don't do handovers, such as a dermatologist doing out-patient clinics, don't work long hours. Hospitals only do it where clinically required.