The NHS is rising to the EWTD 2009 challenge despite doom and gloom accusations being banded around about the European Working Time Directive being a ‘risk to patients’.
Miss Wendy Reid, national clinical advisor on EWTD commented in the Times that ‘the majority’ of trusts will be compliant with the new rules -
with only a small number needing to apply for derogation. She further asserts that safety and quality of care is likely to increase significantly with fewer tired doctors wandering
the wards.
In late June, a Statutory Instrument (SI) was laid in Parliament covering 200 medical staffing rotas - less than 3% of the total - that plan to derogate from the EWTD 48 hour week. These rotas will have up to two years, and exceptionally three, to operate at an average 52 hour week.
Many organisations have implemented innovative, robust and safe methods of clinical practice to meet the challenge. The Homerton and Guys’ and St Thomas’ have show reductions in mortality rates and serious clinical incidents respectively after redesigning services to improve patient care and accommodate the heath and safety legislation.
These two trusts have implemented innovative and sustainable services for two years now which both staff and patients are satisfied with and we congratulate Guys’ and St Thomas’ for winning the award for Excellence in HR in the Supporting Medical Staff category at the HPMA awards. Evidence from a variety of organisations, over recent years, is that solutions are available to the 48 hour working week for doctors in training. Skills for Health - Workforce Projects Team continue to cascade this learning across the NHS.
There is no room for complacency and work will continue past August to support solutions. There are recruitment difficulties in some services and many doctors in training fear that the 48 hour week will be detrimental to their training. The Government recently ordered a review of training under the 48 hour week under the authority of Medical Education England.
Working Time Directive 2009 
