The European Working Time Directive: One for all and all for one?

The European Working Time Directive (EWTD) became law in Britain on October 1, 1998. As a result, the maximum period that may be spent as a resident in hospitals is 56 hours per week and after August 2009, 48 hours per week. The aim of this study was to determine the views of senior house officers (SHOs), specialist registrars (SpRs), and general consultant surgeons (CONs) in Wales on the influence of the EWTD on surgical training and clinical experience.

In this cohort study, a postal questionnaire was sent to 150 SHOs in surgical specialties, 50 general surgical SpRs, and all 84 CONs in the Welsh Deanery.

The response rates were 81%, 78%, and 71% for SHOs, SpRs, and CONs, respectively. The vast majorities at all grades (88% SHOs, 100% SpRs, and 96% CONs) were unhappy with the introduction of EWTD legislation to clinical medicine. Most felt that EWTD legislation will have a negative effect on clinical experience (96% SHOs, 97% SpRs, 96% CONs); patient care (83% SHOs, 85% SpRs, 96% CONs); and training (94% SHOs, 100% SpRs, 93% CONs). Furthermore, a large proportion felt surgical training should be exempt from EWTD regulations (76% SHOs, 87% SpRs, 89% CONs). A significant proportion at each grade was opposed to the introduction of shifts in order to comply with regulations (78% SHOs, 87% SpRs, 89% CONs), and an alarming number have considered leaving the National Health Service when the regulations are enforced (29% SHOs, 41% SpRs, 33% CONs).

This study shows that, in Wales at least, a vast majority of surgical trainees and consultants alike are opposed to the introduction of the EWTD and believe it will have a detrimental effect on training, patient care, and doctors' lives outside of medicine.