Professor Sir George Alberti, national clinical director for emergency access for the Department of Health, told delegates that he now feels confident that the WTD deadline will be achieved ‘not at the expense of training’.
In his keynote speech, Sir George urged trusts to plan for a compliant 48 hour rota which takes account of rest breaks and to assess the impact on training.
“Tired doctors do not perform good medicine,” he said.
He said some of the Workforce Projects Team* pilot sites had clearly demonstrated where WTD had not adversely affected education and training or care and service delivery, highlighting Homerton University Hospital and East Sussex Hospitals NHS trusts.
He also discussed how a study showing a well constructed 48 hour rota could work well for education and training, as well as suggesting the WTD’s impact was being felt internationally, he said: “Other countries where medicine means a 60+ hour week are looking to the NHS as the leaders in compliance.”
Working Time Directive 2009 
