‘Exhausted’ NHS doctor died in on-call room after working nine 13-hour shifts in a row (opens original article in a new tab)

An NHS doctor died from drug and alcohol toxicity in a hospital on-call room after working nine consecutive 13-hour night shifts, with toxicology tests indicating the combined use likely caused his death.

• An NHS consultant died from drug and alcohol toxicity in a hospital on-call room after working nine consecutive 13-hour night shifts.
• Toxicology tests found fentanyl and alcohol in his system, with the inquest concluding the combined use likely caused his death.
• Colleagues described his clinical decision-making as faultless, and his wife stated he was not suicidal but used alcohol as a mental crutch.