Clinical leaders share EWTD best practice and solutions
Clinical leaders from across the healthcare sector shared first hand experiences at the 'Clinical Leadership in the Delivery of EWTD' conference on the ways in which their organisations have implemented the EWTD in practice and how they continue to tackle sustainability.
Miss Wendy Reid, national EWTD clinical adviser to the Department of Health opened the conference with a national overview; confirming that EWTD delivery must maintain the key focus of patient safety, sustainability and quality of training for junior doctors.
London perspective plenary session
Dean director at the London Deanery, Professor Lis Paice, commenced the session, stating that London trusts were making significant progress towards August 2009 compliance.
Further speakers in this session, including Dr Diana Hamilton-Fairley of Guys' and St Thomas', Dr Robert Ghosh of Homerton University Hospital and Michael Burke from the North West London Hospitals, continued with the theme of patient safety and quality training; covering topics such as the importance of team working and rota design; Taking Care 24:7; and hospitals at day and night.
Dr Hamilton-Fairley said: 'the aim is that patients are cared for day and night by the right person with the right skills at the right time.'
Perspective from 24:7 Specialties
Dr Shreelata Datta, vice president, BMA Junior Doctors Committee began the session by focusing on the challenges faced by trainees in the forthcoming months.
Speaking alongside Dr Datta, Professor Bill Dunlop, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Keith Brent, BMA Consultants Committee reiterated the fact that 'there isn't a magic wand solution’ to the associated challenges and that trust wide solutions are essential. Engaging all staff across the board is the way forward and more services could utilise consultant based solutions.
In the Q&A session that followed the morning plenary sessions panellists were commended by many for their efforts and achievements to date and were challenged to answer key questions around EWTD.
The panel were asked for their thoughts about the derogation and whether it was a readily available short term solution.
In response to this Miss Reid confirmed that derogation is not there to reward those who haven’t done any planning - she did agree that for reasons of patient safety there would be some services where a 52 hour week would be required.
She also stated that those planning to derogate would have to prove that they had attempted EWTD implementation and that it would not be acceptable for them to simply say ‘we haven't tried anything; there are 54 days to go so we will just derogate and hope. This will not get through the scrutiny.'
European Solutions
Bram Jacobs, president of the Dutch Junior Doctors' Committee spoke about the process which has seen the Netherlands fully embrace and achieve EWTD compliance as well medical education and how the two combine.
Surgical Solutions
Nigel Standfield, head of London School of Surgical Specialties, London Deanery discussed surgical solutions to EWTD compliance. He said the three main issues in this field are having the appropriate rotas, having appropriate skills available at the appropriate time, and when looking at training asking if we are providing appropriate training and are we delivering it properly.
Feedback from delegates has shown that the event was a huge success and that many were able to take valuable information and recommendations away with them. All speaker presentations can be viewed via the healthcare workforce portal: www.healthcareworkforce.nhs.uk/ewtdconferencepresentations
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