AMA Survey Shows Junior Doctors Subjected to 'Horror' Work Rosters

The results showed 29% were high risk (up to 106 hours a week), 53% were significant risk (up to 86 hours a week) and 18% were low risk (up to 64 hours a week).

One doctor reported working 63 hours non-stop on hospital duty, while 34% of doctors in the higher risk category worked in surgical departments.

AMA Federal President, Dr Kerryn Phelps, said fatigue levels were a direct threat to the safe delivery of medicine.

"The AMA's Safe Hours campaign has one aim only - to make sure public hospitals put patient safety first when managing their medical rostering and work practices," she said.

"A Sydney doctor told us he worked 120 hours one week - with three night shifts and three days on call - and the following week worked 99 hours - including 38 hours straight - and three days on call. This is not acceptable for doctors - or patients."

AMA Doctors In Training representative, Dr Sarah Whitelaw, said clinical studies showed performance levels - after 18 hours without sleep - were the same as having a blood alcohol level greater than 0.05%.

"If junior doctors were considered drunk on the job, hospitals would stop the doctors working. There must be safeguards put in place to eliminate workplace fatigue through excessive hours," Dr Whitelaw said.

Dr Phelps said the AMA had also taken into account night work, on-call commitments and work breaks when compiling the risk assessment.

She said the AMA was calling for the formal endorsement of the association's National Code of Practice - Hours of Work, Shiftwork and Rostering for Hospital Doctors by all accreditation agencies in the health, hospital and medical sector.

"But this survey shows us that statutory law may be the only way to enforce safe working hours because the problem is so systemic," she said.