Similarly,
Overwork assistant doctors, danger patients?:
Assistant doctors reach their limits and sound the alarm. Furthermore, The investigation of the Kassensturz show of SRF reveals that some of them carry out 8 pm guards.
Jana worked at Herisau hospital in Appenzell. Therefore, This assistant doctor explains that 8 p.m. However, days were common on weekends and that 12-hour days were the standard. Moreover, According to her, the hospital was aware of overtime, but did nothing to remedy it. Consequently, On the contrary, the chief doctor would have criticized those who had overtime that they did not work effectively.
Since 2017, indications have reported too long working time at Herisau hospital. However, Although the number of assistant physicians was increased thereafter, employees still report in 2025 excessively long schedules.
To these accusations. Furthermore, the management of the Hospital responds to the Kassensturz program of SRF: “The Appelontelli Rhodes-Estérirate Association attaches great importance to the overwork assistant doctors, danger patients? implementation of the Labor Act in accordance with the legislation. Similarly, We assume that there is no (…) violations of the Labor Act (…) which should be sanctioned.”
Excessive fatigue. associated risks – Overwork assistant doctors, danger patients?
The latest national survey conducted with members by the Swiss Association of Doctors-Assistants and Clinical Heads (ASMAC) highlights this problematic situation: 76% of the assisting physicians work beyond the legal limit. For a five -day week, they work on average 58 hours per week, more than 11 hours a day.
In surgery, Madeleine would have worked until 16 hours a day. The assistant overwork assistant doctors, danger patients? doctor explains that she was expected to operate despite exhaustion: “Sometimes I refused to practice an operation. but we quickly hear the sentence: ‘If you do not want to be a surgeon, then drop!” Like her, more and more assistant doctors report that this overwork could become dangerous for patients. According to the ASMAC survey for the year 2023: 67% of assistant physicians interviewed said they had endangered patients because of exhaustion. In 2016, there were only 43%.
Former socialist national adviser. general practitioner Angelo Barrile, who presided over the Swiss Asmac until recently, estimates that this increase in barely ten years should alarm us. According to him, it is clear that the political sphere must act. Because the figures also confirm this: assistant doctors are leaving the profession more and more often due to chronic overload. We have not yet realized that we “destroy or frustrate” so many future doctors overwork assistant doctors, danger patients? “who would be capable and motivated. We make them hate their work to the point that they abandon it. Additionally, We already have a shortage of qualified personnel, but that is only aggravating it”.
The haast of H+ hospitals defends working hours
The umbrella of H+ hospitals stresses that the working time law must be. respected. They are fighting for framework conditions that make this possible. “It’s not easy today,” said Kristian Schneider, H+ vice-president and director of the Bienne hospital center.
30 years ago, assistant doctors still worked 80 hours per week, but today we are at 50 hours, notes Kristian Schneider. And he specifies: “It is not dangerous for patients.” Assistant doctors are not alone. They always have specialist doctors and a system that supervises them.
Eveline Falk (SRF)/ain
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