The change to junior doctors' working hours has finally come into force and the 1st August deadline brought much media attention and a wide range of views from leading clinicians.
Speaking to Sky News, John Coakley medical director at the Homerton, one of our successful pilot site project partners, explained how the Homerton has addressed compliance issues early by separating emergency from elective care.
Miss Wendy Reid, national EWTD clinical adviser to the Department of Health, who featured on numerous news programmes ranging from local radio to national TV and press, said that EWTD compliance is achievable whilst ensuring quality training for junior doctors and improved patient care.
John Black, president of the Royal College of Surgeons, featured on several programmes including the BBC News warning that the EWTD could stretch clinical cover in hospitals and put the safety of patients at risk.
Shrelatta Datta, chair of the BMA’s Junior Doctors Committee, also featured on the BBC News emphasising the importance of safeguarding the quality of medical training.
So on what was a busy day for the health care sector we are pleased to say that views were balanced.
The future efforts of Workforce Projects Team will be to continue using lessons learned from pilot site findings and helping trusts achieve workable solutions that ensure and the quality of patient care and training.
Our front cover article looks closely at sustainability with commentary from influential figures from across the sector, highlighting what they see as the key issues going forward.
Page eight discusses the Medical Training Initiative (MTI), set up to enable international medical graduates to enter the UK for time limited training within the NHS; highlighting how this might assist trusts struggling with recruitment.
The centre pages feature the outcome of our recent online junior doctors’ Q&A session which saw a panel of
experts answering live questions from junior doctors.
We hope you find this issue of Calling Time informative and we will bring you an EWTD update in next issue to be released in January 2010.
Working Time Directive 2009 
