GMC publish report on European Working Time Directive
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14/02/2013
The General Medical Council has published a report warning over doctors’ working hours. FTN chief executive Chris Hopson commented:
"There are seemingly competing pressures here - the need to maintain patient safety by having alert medical staff who are not working over-long shifts; and the need for junior doctors to have sufficient time supervised by senior staff to fulfil their training needs. But what has not been mentioned is the need for staff rotas and staffing levels that are affordable for trusts trying to maintain and improve quality while meeting tough efficiency targets.
"Trusts have managed to comply with the European Working Time Directive, and this has meant substantial change such as greater involvement of consultants in out-of-hours care. Trusts will now have to start a new round of fresh thinking on staffing, training, rotas and pay to find a sustainable solution, while at the same time they look for ways of delivering better patient care. This will also have to cover prospective changes that will come through as a result of Bruce Keogh's forum looking at access to routine NHS services seven days a week."
The report is available on the GMC website.