scholarly journals Impact of the European Working Time Directive on trainees and trainers 3 years post-implementation

2013 ◽  
Vol 37 (9) ◽  
pp. 286-289
Author(s):  
Farshad Shaddel ◽  
Subimal Banerjee
Keyword(s):  
Working Time ◽  
European Working Time Directive ◽  
Junior Doctors ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
European Working ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Working Time Directive ◽  
The Impact

Aims and methodTo assess the views of trainees and trainers of the impact of the European Working Time Directive (EWTD). The study was conducted in two stages. First, a qualitative survey of trainees and trainers in the Oxford Deanery was carried out on the positive and negative aspects of the EWTD to identify key areas. Second, a self-completed questionnaire was developed separately for trainees and trainers and the results collated. Twenty trainers and nineteen trainees took part in the study.ResultsAbout 70% of trainees and trainers were aware of the EWTD objectives. Ninety per cent of trainers and 30% of trainees believed that the introduction of the EWTD was a negative development. Compared with 42% of trainees, 80% of trainers believed that the EWTD had not improved the quality of care and instead had a negative effect on doctor–patient alliance and continuity of care. Although 53% of trainees believed that the quality of training was not compromised by the introduction of the EWTD, 84% of trainers thought otherwise. Less hands-on experience and some doctors' roles being given to other professionals were the most stated negative impacts of the EWTD on the quality of doctors' training. Positive effects of the EWTD from both trainees' and trainers' points of view were a better work-life balance and less burnout for junior doctors.Clinical implicationsThe EWTD may not have been successful in achieving all of its intended objectives. Further studies on different sample groups would help clarify the wider impact of the EWTD.

scholarly journals Hospital at Night: Not for ENT?

2006 ◽  
Vol 88 (4) ◽  
pp. 134-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
DD Pothier ◽  
S Ahluwalia ◽  
P Monteiro
Keyword(s):  
Patient Care ◽  
Continuity Of Patient Care ◽  
Working Time ◽  
European Working Time Directive ◽  
Junior Doctors ◽  
Consultant Surgeon ◽  
European Working ◽  
After Hours ◽  
Working Time Directive ◽  
The Impact

The introduction of the European Working Time Directive has meant a reduction in the number of hours that junior doctors may spend at work. The impact that this legislation will have on training and the continuity of patient care may be significant. In an attempt to reduce the number of doctors required to look after patients after hours, the Hospital at Night programme has been introduced. The basis of the project is to have a team of generically skilled surgeons on call to handle emergencies and routine ward work from all surgical specialties. The reasoning behind this move is that most SHOs have sufficient training to deal with most surgical problems; any more advanced problems are to be referred to the SpR or consultant surgeon for that specialty.

scholarly journals EWTD: maintaining the pressure

2009 ◽  
Vol 91 (8) ◽  
pp. 258-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Black
Keyword(s):  
Medical Association ◽  
Working Time ◽  
European Working Time Directive ◽  
News Item ◽  
Junior Doctors ◽  
Public Concern ◽  
European Working ◽  
Working Time Directive ◽  
First Time ◽  
Radio Programme

The ill-judged introduction of the 48-hour week demanded by the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) was the first news item on every television and radio programme on Saturday 1 August, indicating just how successful the College has been in raising public concern. It was encouraging that the British Medical Association (BMA) speakers were for the first time expressing serious anxiety, largely about the effects on training and about pressure being put on junior doctors to falsify their hours returns. All conversions to the cause are welcome, however late in the day. It is disappointing that the BMA is not yet stressing the dangers to patients, which they are surely hearing about from their members working in the acute specialties.

Out-of-hours cover in oral and maxillofacial surgery

2008 ◽  
Vol 90 (8) ◽  
pp. 282-283
Author(s):  
G Reddy-Kolanu ◽  
M Ethunandan ◽  
R Anand ◽  
V Ilankovan
Keyword(s):  
Medical Staff ◽  
Maxillofacial Surgery ◽  
Working Time ◽  
European Working Time Directive ◽  
Oral And Maxillofacial Surgery ◽  
Junior Doctors ◽  
Out Of Hours ◽  
Dental Pathology ◽  
European Working ◽  
Working Time Directive

The European Working Time Directive (EWTD) has required all departments to re think staffing arrangements to provide out-of-hours ser vices. Large departments with man y junior doctors can continue to have oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) SHOs covering the out-of-hours ser vice without exceeding the constraints of EWTD. For smaller departments the choice has been either to close the on-call service and centralise it in a larger department or to have a specialty cross-cover arrangement. The problems of cross-cover might be more apparent in OMFS than in other hospital specialties due to other medical staff possessing a negligible knowledge of dental pathology.

scholarly journals Perceived impact of EWTD on UK doctors

2009 ◽  
Vol 91 (4) ◽  
pp. 132-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryckie G Wade ◽  
James Henderson
Keyword(s):  
Patient Care ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Working Time ◽  
European Working Time Directive ◽  
Junior Doctors ◽  
European Working ◽  
Perceived Impact ◽  
Working Time Directive ◽  
A Current

Doctors have historically worked long hours to provide patient care but also to gain experience. Over the last decade, working hours have decreased significantly, and the introduction of the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) has formalised this. In August 2009, junior doctors (but not consultants) will be limited to a 48-hour working week (see http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Managingyourorganisation/Huma nresourcesandtraining/Modernisingworkforceplanninghome/Europeanworkingtimedirective/index.htm). There are concerns at all levels of the profession that doctors will not be adequately trained to function at the standard of a current NHS consultant. Doctors with the least experience make the most errors and familiarity with situations and equipment is directly related to competency.

scholarly journals Get a Life? The Impact of the European Working Time Directive: The Case of UK Senior Doctors

2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (10) ◽  
pp. 1272-1288
Author(s):  
Peter J. Dolton ◽  
Michael P. Kidd ◽  
Jonas Fooken
Keyword(s):  
Working Time ◽  
European Working Time Directive ◽  
European Working ◽  
Working Time Directive ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Weekly working hours for Norwegian hospital doctors since 1994 with special attention to postgraduate training, work–home balance and the European Working Time Directive: a panel study

BMJ Open ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (10) ◽  
pp. e005704 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith Rosta ◽  
Olaf G Aasland
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Postgraduate Training ◽  
Panel Study ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Working Time ◽  
European Working Time Directive ◽  
Junior Doctors ◽  
European Working ◽  
Hospital Doctors ◽  
Working Time Directive

ObjectivesTo examine the weekly working hours of Norwegian hospital doctors from 1994 to 2012 with special emphasis on the quality of postgraduate training and work–home balance, and in relation to the requirements of the European Working Time Directive (EWTD).DesignPanel study based on postal questionnaires.SettingNorway.ParticipantsUnbalanced cohort of 1300–1600 doctors in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012.Outcome measuresSelf-reported total weekly working hours and whether 45 weekly working hours are too short, sufficient, or too long to meet the quality requirements of obligatory postgraduate training for junior doctors.ResultsFrom 1994 to 2012, the number of weekly working hours was stable for senior (46–47 h) and junior (45–46 h) hospital doctors. In 2012, significantly more senior (27–35%) than junior (11–20%) doctors reported suboptimal work–home balance, defined as working more than 48 h a week. The majority perceived the present situation with an average of 45 h per week for juniors as sufficient for obligatory postgraduate specialist training, but doctors of higher age (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.08), senior doctors (1.07, 1.04 to 1.11) and doctors working in surgical specialties (OR 1 vs laboratory medicine 0.03, 0.01 to 0.25, internal medicine 0.31, 0.17 to 0.58, psychiatry 0.12, 0.04 to 0.36, paediatrics 0.36, 0.12 to 1.07, anaesthesiology 0.08, 0.02 to 0.39, gynaecology 0.07, 0.01 to 0.56 and others 0.39, 0.04 to 3.56) were more likely to want the work-week to be longer.ConclusionsThe weekly working hours of Norwegian hospital doctors were always below the EWTD requirements. A significant growth of hospital doctor density over the past two decades, national regulations and cultural values might be important factors. Specialty differences in perception of sufficient training time may call for more flexibility in working time regulations.

Evaluation of orthopaedic higher surgical training during three differing working patterns

2006 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 90-92
Author(s):  
MC Oliver ◽  
MR Edwards ◽  
IC Kurta ◽  
M Hearth
Keyword(s):  
Surgical Training ◽  
Working Time ◽  
European Working Time Directive ◽  
Junior Doctors ◽  
Training Opportunity ◽  
European Working ◽  
Full Shift ◽  
Higher Surgical Training ◽  
Working Time Directive

This month we publish a single article by Oliver et al on the effect of differing working patterns on training opportunity. The European Working Time Directive changes have been in place long enough for effects to start being measured. Concerns that reduction in junior doctors' hours and thoughtless implementation of full-shift rotas are detrimental do not seem to be diminishing.

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