AN OXFORD doctor has spoken out about the risks of medical professionals falling asleep while driving home from night shifts.

In a programme to be broadcast on BBC One tonight Sam Jayaweera, who often works four night shifts in a row in intensive care, said she veered across the road when she nodded off.

She said: "About five minutes away from home I was on one of the country roads and found myself on the opposite side of the road - I mean thank goodness there was nothing coming the other way

"In fact, only just last year I was going to a night shift and I came across a car that (had) flipped in the road, it was an unlit country road and... it was another junior doctor coming back from their late shift."

The programme also detailed how Brian Connelly's daughter, Lauren, was driving home after her first ever night shift as a newly-qualified doctor when she died.

He said: "When she came off the night shift she phoned home and said 'I'm leaving', she had a chat with her mum and explained that the night shift had gone well.

"She was a bit concerned as it was a new experience of her being in charge and she was feeling quite pleased with herself. But nevertheless on the journey back home, that period that she fell asleep..."

When Miss Connelly did not arrive home, Mr Connelly and his wife, went out in their car to look for her.

"Because we were expecting her home. And we set off to find her. And while we were driving, we could see the accident on the other side of the road..."

Mr Connelly's campaign has cut the number of night shifts that can be worked in a row in Scotland from seven to five.