Working safely on night shifts

Dr Michael Farquhar
A better understanding of sleep can help doctors cope better with working nights and ultimately benefit patients too, says Dr Michael Farquhar.

Working an 18-hour shift without a break can have the same effect on reaction times as being at the legal drink-drive limit.

This page was correct at publication on 11/09/2017. Any guidance is intended as general guidance for members only. If you are a member and need specific advice relating to your own circumstances, please contact one of our advisers.

Dr Michael Farquhar

After graduating from Edinburgh University, Dr Michael Farquhar trained in general paediatrics, respiratory medicine and sleep medicine in the UK and Australia. He is now a consultant at Evelina London Children's Hospital, part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, working in the paediatric general sleep and hypersomnia clinics and the diagnostics sleep study service. He also educates healthcare professionals on the importance of sleep. Michael is a member of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, The British Paediatric Sleep Association, the British Sleep Society, the European Sleep Research Society and the British Paediatric Respiratory Society.