Abstract
The Working Time Directive (WTD) has now been applied to limit the hours worked by junior doctors. Can the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Trust (UHMBT) rise to the challenge of implementing this directive for consultant staff while maintaining clinical services and training? This summary of the WTD (see below) is taken from the Trust’s newsletter, published as the Weekly News, and edited by Rachael Whitaker, whose contribution we acknowledge. The Journal has adapted the document to fit the consultant contract: is it achievable for consultants? The Journal asked Mike Bird, a member of the Local Negotiating Committee for Consultants.
References
The Working Time Regulations – Statutory Instrument No. 1833. 1998
European Directive 89/391/EEC. 1993
Junior Doctors – The New Deal NHS Management Executive. 1991
European Court of Justice, Case C-303/98, Sindicato de Médicos de Asistencia Pública (Simap) and Conselleria de Sanidad y Consumo de la Generalidad Valenciana. 2000
European Court of Justice, Case C-151/02, Landeshauptstadt Kiel and Norbert Jaeger. 2003
Emergency Admissions: A journey in the right direction. NCEPOD. 2007
Hospital at Night Assessment. 2008 http://www.healthcareworkforce.nhs.uk/working_time_directive/hospital_at_night/hospital_at_night_2008_uk_implementation_survey_report.html
Acute medical care: the right person, in the right setting - first time. Royal College of Physicians (London). October 2007
Department of Health: Hospital Activity Statistics http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/index.htm
http://www.healthcareworkforce.nhs.uk/takingcare247.html
Separating emergency and elective surgical care: Recommendations for practice. Royal College of Surgeons (London). September 2007