Is it time for consultants to join trainees in working night shifts? No

Making the night shift the right shift

“…16 It is important to appreciate that unlike the environment that led to the development of policy in the USA, Australasian EDs are typically staffed at night not by interns or first year RMOs, but by SDMs, which significantly weakens the argument. 13 These arguments are generally based in anecdote and are not supported by recent literature from the UK.…”

“…13,14 Yet, in other countries such as the USA, the role of Staff Specialists on nights has become the expected standard of care. 13,14 Yet, in other countries such as the USA, the role of Staff Specialists on nights has become the expected standard of care.…”

“…The concept of FACEMs working night shifts is one that incites heated debate among the EM community here in Australasia. 13,14 Yet, in other countries such as the USA, the role of Staff Specialists on nights has become the expected standard of care. 15 The need for a consultant presence in ED on night shifts in the USA originated from a significant negative patient outcome in 1984, whereby the use of very junior staff without senior support was strongly implicated.…”

“…14 Arguments against include the lack of sustainability because of health and well-being, reduced experiential learning opportunities and the economic cost. 13…”

Focusing on the learner: Introducing Emergency Medicine Australasia's new trainee section

“…This first edition of Trainee Focus features a debate on a topic close to the heart of all EM clinicians: staffing of night shifts. Runciman 19 and Markwell 20 have provided engaging perspectives on the appropriateness of consultants being rostered for night duty, with a focus on patient safety and training issues. Comments from readers, captured via Twitter™ (San Francisco, CA, USA), have also been included.…”