I came across your blog when looking for oportunities to work in Brazil in a year from now. I too am a Junior Doctor in my first year after qualifying currently working in Ireland. Theres no doubt that the hours worked make a healthy lifestyle much more difficult and the EU working time directive is unlikely to change things.

Currently Junior Doctors in their first year work a standard 49 hour week with overtime and unrostered hours making a normal week 90-100 hours. In my 3rd week working I have seen friends work 115 hours in a week and myself worked 96 hours last week. However, I’m not really complaining. Most of us are glad to have the opportunity to work extra time in order to pay off the debts encried throughout college.

The problem is that the new EU working time directive isnt workable. It is supposed to come into action in August, however most hospitals are pushing it forward to October or as far off as they can. As things are, a normal day in Surgery starts at 7.30 and finishes at 6 earliest. the EU directive looks at doctors working a 39 hour week (9am-4pm on a Friday) with 2 days off post call. This model isnt workable as the hospital system would collapse if the doctors were to work to rule. What is most likely to happen is that doctors will end up working extra hours and just get paid for the 49 hours. Not a nice situation when a normal working week extends beyond 90 hours.

Thank you so much for bringing out the issue so vividly and in a vibrant manner! I agree with you.

I was so excited and found myself there while reading first four paragraphs! Splendid! Then you take plateau phase then U-turn accepting the reality and need of the work and starting to enjoy it. May be because, there is less chance of getting alternatives to it.

The work load and rotations are there but what makes we junior doctors even worse is unsupported responsibilities! If you are just recruited junior doctor and doing your house officer work or first few months of residency, is it wise enough to give all responsibility to deal with Emergency or ward calls? When an orthopedic first year resident is on duty and sent emergency to handle all pending cases, that’s of course, giving some extra stress to him/her.

Definitely, giving full responsibility will train the junior doctors on dealing the cases and triaging them but it matters when to start, how much to give and how to support and correct their decisions! Even more important is to help them (support) with the decisions in first few months which will raise their morale, confidence and encourage to work up the case.

Yes, working hard and getting involved with the cases is part and parcel of the profession. Exactly, it is the matter of making it more interesting and enjoying it with serious concern on our health as well.

Best wishes,
mati
Junior Doctor

I completelty agree with you, it is very difficult for a young doctor to lead a healthy lifestyle when faced with 80 hour weeks of grueling work. Of course that does not even include extra time to study, prepare presentations or reports, write papers and so on… our life easily becomes our career, but we have to resist that, not only for our sake in the long term, but also for our sake of our loved ones (partner, family and friends). We need to learn to draw a line, even if that just means squeezing in 30 min a day to go for a run.

I have a better deal, as I am in Primary Care, and thus free from 24h on call commitments and night shifts, but my career can be equally absorbing as well.

My little secrets are to exercise everyday, even if for 30 min, and even if that means running at midnight in the street, as I have already done not so long ago. Most of the time, I get home on time to go to the gym, a 10 min walk from home, even if it’s already 20h or 21h when that happens.

I have never given up this precious time, even in times of exams or of more work. This has helped me remain fit and feel good, which then has implications in my daily work. I feel boosted by the endorphine rush, and motivated to face my patients and my colleagues, and the odds are that I will do it full of energy and with a smile in my face!

We just possible can’ fully give in to our career, no matter how demanding it is, even if that requires from us some spirit of sacrifice and determination.

Tiago Villanueva
GP trainee, Lisbon, Portugal

“I don’t have time to excercise doctor”, ” I don’t have time to cook healthy meals” ” it’s not possible with my job”

And how often do we tell patients that these changes have to be made in some way that fits around their lifestyle?

We in Britain also have busy lifestyles (the EWTD does not work as well as it may be portrayed, although I am sure most doctors in the UK are more than aware of this), and a busy homelife that they have to maintain. But most of all, we are human like all of our patients.

However, at the same time, we have all made a commitment to get here (medicine) in the first place, where is the commitment to stay here and be healthy so we can stay here for longer?

Many of my collegues, including myself I like to think, manage to fit a healthy lifestyle around medicine. I think that it takes no more than the commitment we showed in medical school. We all worked hard (and for the majority) played hard then, why not now.

If you cannot manage it, then how are any of your patients going to ever believe that they can also do it?

Clair Melville
A very happy and healthy Foundation 2