We summarise some of the key EWTD issues post August 1st providing information, advice and answers to some of the questions being asked.

• The change to working hours for junior doctors
• Derogation
• Opt out
• EWTD 2009 readiness
• Implications of non compliance
• Indemnity for clinicians working in excess of EWTD limits
• Support and guidance

Click here to view the full summary >>>

Meeting the Challenge of Out of Hours Care in Hospitals

Date: Tuesday 3rd November 2009

Venue: 76 Portland Place, London

This year's national Hospital at Night conference focuses on sharing experiences and practical advice from leading healthcare organisations and professionals including: Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital NHS Trust, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Tim Lund, EWTD programme lead at Skills for Health - Workforce Projects Team (WPT) will update delegates on national support including the e-learning training package currently being developed and Dan Hughes, national support and development manager at WPT will share how HaNBleep is working in practice to aid rapid response to the acutely ill patient.

For more information on this event and to book your place please click here to download the booking form >>>

European Working Time Directive (EWTD) compliant rotas for junior doctors will shortly be made more easily sustainable thanks to a newly developed rostering tool to be launched this Autumn.

The North West Rostering Tool is a web based resource that will enable users to produce optimal rosters, factoring in elements such as annual leave, sickness and shift swaps. Training requirements will continue to be fullfiled within the 48 hour week whilst ensuring correct ward cover, skill mix and ultimately quality patient care.

The tool has been developed in partnership with NHS North West and Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust and will be ready for use across the NHS in due course - commencing with a roll out to NHS North West in September.

In what will be the first post August 1st issue of Calling Time we will look at the ongoing theme of EWTD sustainability, learning from influential sector figures what the key issues are surrounding ongoing sustainable solutions.

Findings from our interactive online junior doctors' Q&A forum will be published - detailing the main concerns facing junior doctors' in light of EWTD and the advice provided by the panel of experts who were on hand to answer live questions from junior doctors.

This useful issue will be delivered to you this month and will be posted on our portal >>>