15.02.13
Working Time Regulations ‘risking patient safety’ – GMC
Some doctors are working nearly a 100 hours a week during their busiest shifts, new research indicates. The GMC commissioned a study based on the views of 82 trainee doctors to understand the impact of the Working Time Regulations.
It found that the regulations – which state that trainee doctors should not be working more than 48 hours a week, averaged over 26 weeks – had led to fewer hours but more shift work.
Some of the doctors reported being unable to take rest breaks during long shifts, or stop for food and drink.
The legislation was also responsible for a lack of continuity in out-of-hours care and meant that trainees had access to fewer training opportunities, the GMC suggests.
Niall Dickson, chief executive of the GMC, said: “It is clear the current system is not working as it should – in some cases doctors are still too tired and there are issues around continuity and training opportunities.
“We must never go back to the ridiculous hours worked in the past when patients were routinely put at risk by exhausted young doctors, but the current system is too complex and the way it is implemented far from satisfactory.”
Professor Terence Stephenson, chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, welcomed the report and agreed that such regulations could make rotas unnecessarily complex.
“We would back a move to introduce greater flexibility into the WTR so rotas can support both service and patient safety while enhancing training.”
A spokesperson for Health Education England added: “The report highlights both the importance of sharing best practice across the NHS and of utilising the flexibilities available. The experiences of some of the doctors quoted in the report leave no room for complacency as the quality of their education and training affects the quality of care of patients in the future.”
Dr Andrew Goddard, RCP director of medical workforce, agreed that working patterns and heavy workloads “are having a detrimental effect on patient care, education and training, and morale”.
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