Legal

It is important to be aware of the legal implications of non-compliance with EWTD to try and mitigate the risks involved through successful implementation. This section of the portal includes articles and resources which detail how non-compliance with EWTD is enforced in the UK. To read more about the legal issues surrounding EWTD, please see the links below:

The derogation allows a 52 hour working week, for a maximum of three years, from 1 August 2009 for services facing significant difficulties with implementing an average 48-hour working week by this August. The Department of Health report that some 24-hour inpatient care services, supra specialty services and small, remote and rural units may be covered by the derogation. Less than 3% of junior doctor rotas have required the derogation to date but it is possible for the Working Time Regulations to be amended to include additional rotas in the derogation.