As dedicated professionals at Hampstead Hospital, we put our hearts into caring for patients in psychiatric crisis each day. We provide the much-needed support, guidance, and health care for people in their most vulnerable states. However, to offer life-changing care and manage effective therapy groups, we need an adequate emotional reserve, which our current work pattern doesn't afford us. 

Currently, we are operating on 8-hour shifts that are causing immense strain and fatigue, reducing our productivity and impacting the quality of our service. These conditions have a twofold effect. Firstly, they reduce our ability to deliver optimal care to our patients, and secondly, they hinder our personal lives, limiting the time we need with our families to rejuvenate and be the empathetic caregivers our patients need.

Our request is simple: transition from 8-hour shifts to 12-hour shifts. Such a shift pattern is already successful in many hospitals, reducing fatigue and increasing overall job satisfaction. As reported by the American Journal of Critical Care, a 12-hour shift system has been found to allow healthcare providers better work-life balance, less exposure to risks at the workplace and more days off (Kelly et al., 2020).

By implementing this system, Hampstead Hospital would align with other leading healthcare facilities, improve the well-being of its staff, and by extension, elevate the quality of care provided to its patients.

Please sign this petition in favor of a shift to 12 hour shifts to safeguard the health of our caregivers and ensure the best care for our patients.