Pilot Projects Report

Healthcare organisations across England have completed their European Working Time Directive (EWTD) 2009 pilots with the publication of their final project reports.

Across the breadth of projects from Teamworking, Handover and Escalation through Taking Care 24:7 to Collaborative Solutions, the lessons learned from the end of project reports reflect many of the same key fundamentals.

The reports reveal the conclusions of the various trusts who worked together with Skills for Health - Workforce Projects Team to look at innovative and original ways of achieving EWTD compliance. The other goal being to create ideas and learning that can be applied to other healthcare organisations who are looking to introduce their own EWTD solutions.

Completion reports are now available from Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Milton Keynes General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Airedale NHS Trust, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Trust and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust (NGH) along with other NHS organisations.

Through the work of the Workforce Projects Team pilot projects, each of the organisations has been able to identify key points and lessons that have helped them towards achieving compliance with the EWTD 2009 requirements.

In many cases there is overlap in best practice between the learning of the organisations.

The recommendations that overlap include the importance of having a project manager with a clinical background to help drive the project forward, making sure there is support from executive level management early, as well as engaging clinicians and ensuring the latest developments are communicated to all relevant staff.

NGH sum up the learning and highlight the ongoing nature of projects saying: "it is important to implement changes which will not only remain sustainable and meet the aims and objectives originally outlined, but be continually reviewed and adapted to ensure forward progression".

To find out more and read the reports, visit the EWTD pilot pages on the healthcare workforce portal >>>