Improving Doctors' Training within the EWTD

Friday 23rd January

A host of speakers from across England and from a variety of healthcare organisations gave their views on training in a 48 hour week.

They brought findings from numerous research projects and personal experience to an audience of medical directors, consultants and workforce planners from the South East Coast SHA and some delegates from Scotland. The day featured presentations, discussions and action planning in an effort to ensure that all trusts within the South East Coast area achieve compliance with the 2009 European Working Time Directive by the August deadline.

Richard Smith, executive director of Ovations and former editor of the British Medical Journal, chair for the day, suggested that there were four things the delegates could take back to their organisations from the day: raising consciousness of the directive and what could be done to reach compliance; shared experiences of work that had been undertaken thus far; sharing good practice; and taking back new ideas.

David Sowden, keynote speaker, suggested that one of the main areas for change was a need to be more inventive in the approach to training.

He said: “Producing unconsciously competent doctors should be the aim.” He went on to say that having someone sitting on every trust board responsible for education and training including the education and training of junior doctors is essential.

Tom Dolphin, vice chair of BMA Junior Doctor Committee emphasised that one single solution will not resolve all the problems. He said: “It will be lots of little things depending on the individual situation.” He suggested various ideas to help to support training in EWTD working hours.

www.healthcareworkforce.nhs.uk/wtdnewsandevents

There were also presentations from the South East Deanery, the Homerton hospital and from East Sussex hospitals.

In summary Richard Smith suggested that:

• It is important to work on the assumption that compliance with the directive must be achieved
• Joined up thinking is terribly important - not doing things bit by bit but doing a full systems approach
• There is no magic bullet - not one solution, but many things done together
• Changes are not going to happen overnight
• Systems need revisiting and revitalising regularly
• Communication is key - winning hearts and minds is important.

He went on to say: "Trusts will also need champions who are ready for a rough road. If organisations can do this they can improve patient care and patient outcomes."

For more information or to view the presentations from the day visit www.healthcareworkforce.nhs.uk/wtdnewsandevents