Dr Amir Khan’s major health concern for retail workers and nurses

A habit that millions of Brits do every single day “isn’t natural”, a TV doctor claims. People who work certain jobs could be putting their bodies through this process that humans are “not designed” to cope with naturally.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics claim that up to 8.7 million people (about 27% of the workforce) work night-time or varying shift schedules. Many are required to work this way across multiple sectors, such as retail and services, healthcare, manufacturing, and emergency services – including nurses, warehouse and shop workers.

But, despite these industries running 24/7 in some cases, the human body is not designed for this, Dr Amir Khan claims. On a recent episode of his No Appointment Necessary podcast, the NHS GP said: “Our bodies are not evolved to do shift work.

“Shift work is a modern thing, part of capitalism, that’s been thrust upon us. It sees us more as functional units rather than actual human beings. Your body is not designed to stay up all night one week and then work days the next week.”

Speaking from his experience as a practising doctor, Dr Khan claims he struggled with the shift patterns of working in a busy A&E department and having to “get sleep when he could”.

The medic, known best for his early morning appearances on ITV shows like Good Morning Britain and Lorraine, said: “It is always better to get into a rhythm. Some people really like working nights, then sleeping through the day and having the day to do the stuff that they might want to do as well later on.

“If you can work consistently one shift for a period of time where your body can get into a rhythm. That is better than switching and changing all the time.”

Fixed working hours can provide workers with a predictable schedule that improves productivity and establishes clear boundaries between professional and personal life, helping to prevent burnout. A fixed schedule also makes it much easier to plan personal appointments, childcare, and social activities on a regular basis.

Studies have found that working consistent hours with a reliable schedule keeps the body aligned with its natural circadian rhythm. By stabilising the time spent working, people are then able to establish a more consistent sleep pattern, maximising deep, restorative sleep phases.

Avoiding erratic sleep patterns common to rotating shifts significantly reduces daytime exhaustion. Having a natural sleep-wake cycle has also been linked to maintaining a more stable blood pressure and heart rate.

Aside from supporting bedroom habits, a consistent shift pattern helps people to support regular, daytime eating patterns and reduces the risk of erratic snacking and metabolic disruption.

Can I ask for more structure to my shift pattern?

In most cases, a quick discussion with your manager can help you find a way to get more predictable shifts. Ask them for 10-15 minutes to talk about your schedule.

Frame your ask around business benefits, such as higher productivity and better task focus, rather than just personal preference. You could propose having a trial run to prove the new pattern will work long-term.

Suggest evaluating the new schedule after a trial period long enough to demonstrate results over time (e.g., 30 days). This lowers the stakes for your boss and shows you are willing to compromise.