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The European Working Time Directive: One for all and all for one?
G J Morris-Stiff1, S Sarasin, P Edwards
1Department of Surgery, Royal Glamorgan Hospital, LlantrisantRoyal Gwent Hospital, Newport, Wales.
Surgery
|March 5, 2005
Summary
Surgical trainees and consultants in Wales largely oppose the European Working Time Directive (EWTD), believing it negatively impacts training and patient care. Many consider leaving the NHS due to these regulations.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Surgical Training
- Healthcare Policy
Background:
- The European Working Time Directive (EWTD) mandated reduced resident working hours in UK hospitals.
- Implementation led to maximum weekly resident hours of 56, later reduced to 48.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the perspectives of surgical trainees and consultants in Wales on the EWTD's impact.
- To understand views on surgical training and clinical experience under EWTD regulations.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study utilizing postal questionnaires.
- Surveyed Senior House Officers (SHOs), Specialist Registrars (SpRs), and Consultant Surgeons (CONs) in the Welsh Deanery.
Main Results:
- High response rates across all grades (71-81%).
- Overwhelming opposition to EWTD: 88-96% unhappy with its introduction.
- Concerns about negative effects on clinical experience (96-97%), patient care (83-96%), and training (93-100%).
- Significant support for exempting surgical training from EWTD (76-89%).
- Opposition to shift work (78-89%) and consideration of leaving the NHS (29-41%).
Conclusions:
- A substantial majority of surgical professionals in Wales oppose the EWTD.
- Belief that the EWTD will detrimentally affect surgical training and patient care.
- Concerns extend to the impact on doctors' work-life balance.