Excellence in Mental Health and Wellbeing Review of Shift Pattern and Fatigue at Wellington Free Ambulance

Wellington Free Ambulance

Team: Katrina Henderson, Kaya Yambe, Ata McGregor, Mikyla Melville, Alesha Hazlewood, Nathan Shippam, James Crombie, Gus Feltham

As a 24/7 emergency ambulance service the burden of shift work has many implications not only for staff and their families, but also for patients and the wider community. As a service we are committed to exploring options that reduce the burden of fatigue in the long term. This project aimed to explore and evaluate the impact of differing shift patterns on fatigue, using robust evidence-based research.

Wellington Free Ambulance is committed to the wellbeing of our staff by prioritising reducing fatigue. The aim of this project was to explore and quantify if possible, a causal link between shift pattern and levels of fatigue amongst frontline Emergency Ambulance Staff (EAS) in Wellington. Having robust evidence of a causal link would allow us to consider options for change to our existing shift pattern and/or the introduction of a new shift pattern to reduce the burden of fatigue on our staff.

Amongst Wellington Free Ambulances shift working staff, there are many opinions and anecdotal views about the impact of shift patterns on both fatigue levels and wellbeing. Therefore, it was important this project took an objective approach to shift pattern review using analytical tools to establish verifiable facts on the impact shift patterns have on the fatigue and wellbeing levels of EAS staff.

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Excellence in Mental Health & Wellbeing