The phenomenon is largely underestimated by hospitals. A clear majority of medical interns work more than the legal maximum set at 48 hours per week, according to a study commissioned by the Ministry of Health and unveiled by the Doctor’s Daily.
In a hospital deserted by their elders, the rifles are in great demand: the situation, long denounced by the unions of interns, is now confirmed by an OpinionWay study, carried out on behalf of the ministry between the end of July and the end of September 2021. This investigation was a promise from Olivier Véran in April 2021 “in the face of the rebellion of young people exasperated by extended days, the violation of the laws in force and the increase in suicides”, according to the professional journal.
Of the 2,348 students who responded to the consultation, 70% indicated that they had worked “more than 48 hours” per week in the previous months. The legal maximum is often greatly exceeded, since 18% worked “between 48 and 51 hours” and 52% “more than 51 hours” weekly.
Worse, most interns do more than their mandatory eight half-days of service. Depending on the specialties, between 76% (emergencies) and 98% (surgery) return to exercise, most often for two or three additional half-days per week.
A discrepancy with the declarations of the hospitals
At the same time, the 252 establishments questioned in parallel declare barely 18% to 37% of students (depending on the specialties) working beyond this compulsory period, with only one to two days in excess in the vast majority of cases.
Same divergence between night and weekend shifts, more frequent according to future doctors than according to their employers. All however largely agree on the respect of the safety rest (11 hours following each guard or on-call duty).
These results confirm those of the National Intersyndicale des Interns (Isni), which had already reported an average of 58 hours per week before the Covid-19 pandemic. The organization called for a strike in June to demand “the hourly count” of working time, which is also the subject of a dispute in the Council of State.
