CardiovascularBritish Medical Association Concerned About NHS Preparedness For New Working Time Regulations
With just days to go before the implementation of the 48-hour working week for junior doctors, the BMA"s junior doctors" leader warns that not all of the NHS is prepared for the European Working Time Directive.
Dr Andy Thornley, Chairman of the BMA"s Junior Doctors Committee. said:
"The NHS has had a decade to prepare for the introduction of the 48-hour week for junior doctors, yet it is clear to those of us that work in the NHS that many trusts have not properly prepared for this change. We are not reassured by government reports that the NHS is 97% compliant with the new working time regulation as we fear many junior doctors are being pressured to lie about their hours1.
"Our members are worried about their training; many feel it has reduced in quality as working hours have been reduced. The future of the NHS depends on the production of the high quality consultants of tomorrow. This can not be done if standards of training are allowed to slide. Junior doctors are also deeply concerned that patient services could be affected in trusts that have not properly prepared for the working time directive.
"It is possible to meet training demands and maintain patient services. Solutions rely on hospital managers working with doctors to ensure that doctors" time is best used and all training opportunities are maximised. It will also need a movement to an NHS that is more reliant on an expanded consultant workforce, which will benefit patients and the profession as a whole. Trusts cannot be complacent - the directive will be law in a few days and they must work hard to implement solutions in a way that does not compromise patient care or the quality of doctors" training."
Notes
1 A recent survey in the Health Service Journal reported that 1 in 10 had been told to lie about working hours. See Here.
British Medical Association