Junior doctors' shifts and sleep deprivation

Editor—Clearly the editorial by Murray et al on junior doctors' shifts has struck a chord with many, as on-call rotas are something close to many doctors hearts.¹,² To most it seems the grass is not greener on the other side.

Having worked most rotas, be it a traditional one in four, with full weekends, to partial, hybrid, and full shift patterns, I am in a reasonable position to comment on what I think makes a liveable on-call rota.

I was under the impression that the European Working Time Directive was set out to improve the health and safety of workers, make working conditions better, but also make life away from work better because doctors would be less tired. The directive scores a “no” against all of these. I find myself more tired at work and at home, less enthusiastic, and less motivated by what is becoming a regular chore. Instead of being on call once a week, I find myself doing an on-call shift two or three times a week (on average), being late home more often than not because fewer juniors are around, and spending less time with my young children.

The “old” rota system of a 24 hour on-call, with at least six on a rota, made on-call shifts less frequent, more tolerable, and even enjoyable. It also left plenty of time for training, and so long as there were six or more on rota, it made the annual leave far more flexible and workable. Anaesthetists rarely complained, certainly compared with other specialties' rotas, and everyone knew that however busy, you were always going to go home to a full day off in the morning.

Why not listen to those doing the rota, and affected family members, and respect within reason what the workers want to work.