Doctors' Working Lives News
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Friday, July 30, 2004
A BMA press release says the organisation will support juniors in any legal action over doctors' hours.
Guardian survey
The Guardian has published its survey on junior doctors' hours which suggests that over half the hospitals in England will struggle to meet EWTD. Lead article and full report
An anonymous article by an NHS manager also suggests that compliance on paper may not translate into practice and that consultants may be giving doctors the message that they should not comply with EWTD. A junior doctor also reports on her experience of exhaustion at work.
Hospital Doctor also reports that doctors are being pressured to sign opt-outs.
An anonymous article by an NHS manager also suggests that compliance on paper may not translate into practice and that consultants may be giving doctors the message that they should not comply with EWTD. A junior doctor also reports on her experience of exhaustion at work.
Hospital Doctor also reports that doctors are being pressured to sign opt-outs.
Advice for junior doctors
BMJ Careers has advice on Surviving your first set of night shifts as a PRHO
.....and making the most of coffee breaks
They also have an article on work dependency in doctors.
The National Sleep Foundation in the US has a sleep quiz and resources for poor sleepers.
.....and making the most of coffee breaks
They also have an article on work dependency in doctors.
The National Sleep Foundation in the US has a sleep quiz and resources for poor sleepers.
EWTD developments
Mondaq has published legal advice on the Jaeger ruling by Clarks.
Consultant Surgeon Nick Boyle warns that surgical training in the United Kingdom is facing a crisis due to EWTD reforms (Telegraph).
NHS Scotland predicts a high level of compliance with EWTD (ePolitix.com) but BMA predicts 24 of the 190 rotas in Scotland will be non-compliant (Scotsman).
The Irish Health Minister has confirmed that Ireland will not be compliant with EWTD for doctors on 1st August, but dismissed trade union claims that hospitals would close if no agreement was reached on EWTD. The issue is still going through the industrial relations process.
The BMA has welcomed the increase in hospital doctor numbers in England.
Consultant Surgeon Nick Boyle warns that surgical training in the United Kingdom is facing a crisis due to EWTD reforms (Telegraph).
NHS Scotland predicts a high level of compliance with EWTD (ePolitix.com) but BMA predicts 24 of the 190 rotas in Scotland will be non-compliant (Scotsman).
The Irish Health Minister has confirmed that Ireland will not be compliant with EWTD for doctors on 1st August, but dismissed trade union claims that hospitals would close if no agreement was reached on EWTD. The issue is still going through the industrial relations process.
The BMA has welcomed the increase in hospital doctor numbers in England.
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
US doctors' work hours improving, but flaws remain
Work hours restrictions in America are in the spotlight. AMedNews reports that one year into the restrictions, progress has been good but many residents are working excessive hours.
According to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, "of the 7,964 programs [they accredit], 1,753 were visited in the past 11 months, and 84 were cited for problems related to work-hour violations." There are also worries that residents are suppressing violations due to fears about losing accreditation.
According to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, "of the 7,964 programs [they accredit], 1,753 were visited in the past 11 months, and 84 were cited for problems related to work-hour violations." There are also worries that residents are suppressing violations due to fears about losing accreditation.
Monday, July 05, 2004
Hours crisis at Red Cross hospital
The Cape Times reports on a staffing crisis at the Red Cross children's hospital in Capetown, South Africa, after 9 out of 14 senior house officer posts failed to be filled. The hospital will have to close its emergency unit at midnight on some nights, and consultants and registrars will have to carry out SHO duties.
The lack of SHOs is being attributed to long hours, doctors choosing to work overseas, and the long process involved in recruiting foreign doctors. An unnamed doctor commented: "It's not that doctors don't want to work here. This used to be one of the best training hospitals in the world. But the hours ... have become more and more."
The lack of SHOs is being attributed to long hours, doctors choosing to work overseas, and the long process involved in recruiting foreign doctors. An unnamed doctor commented: "It's not that doctors don't want to work here. This used to be one of the best training hospitals in the world. But the hours ... have become more and more."
US and Australia update
The American Medical Association is calling for laws to increase physician autonomy, reports AMedNews.
The 90th anniversary edition of the Medical Journal of Australia has several useful articles:
Lessons learnt from whistleblowing
Attitudes of doctors and nurses to incident reporting
The role of information in reducing medical error
The 90th anniversary edition of the Medical Journal of Australia has several useful articles:
Lessons learnt from whistleblowing
Attitudes of doctors and nurses to incident reporting
The role of information in reducing medical error
Friday, July 02, 2004
UK government launches consultation on opt-out
The UK has launched its own consultation on the Working Time Directive opt-out, in parallell with the review by the European Commission. The consultation paper asks for responses as soon as possible to help inform the European debate.
Closing date is 22nd September, so get your responses in now!
Closing date is 22nd September, so get your responses in now!
BMA Conference
The BMA chairman, James Johnson has criticised the NHS's "exploitation" of foreign doctors and the "poaching" of doctors from the developing world, reports the Independent. The BMJ, in a more comprehensive article, also reports Mr Johnson's comments on junior doctor training; "Patients deserve fully trained doctors, and we have to provide them without working them 72 hours a week". Mr Johnson also argued that patient choice was not viable until there were enough staff to deliver it.
News update
Huddersfield Royal Infirmary has had to temporarily close its neonatal ICU as there are "not enough doctors to meet EWTD", reports the Huddersfield Daily Examiner.
Downgrading of emergency care at Crawley Hospital due to staff shortages has been put on hold, after junior doctors complained of lack of consultation and argued that patients could die. (icSurreyonline)
BMJ Careers focus has a report on Modernising Medical Careers in the devolved nations - Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
8 out of 10 doctors don't trust NHS monitoring systems for reporting medical mistakes, according to a survey for Doctors.net.uk (BMJ).
Downgrading of emergency care at Crawley Hospital due to staff shortages has been put on hold, after junior doctors complained of lack of consultation and argued that patients could die. (icSurreyonline)
BMJ Careers focus has a report on Modernising Medical Careers in the devolved nations - Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
8 out of 10 doctors don't trust NHS monitoring systems for reporting medical mistakes, according to a survey for Doctors.net.uk (BMJ).
This site is maintained by Ellie Pattinson. All rights reserved. This website is maintained independently of the NHS and the views expressed are not necessarily a reflection of the views of that organisation. For any queries, contributions or amendments, please email me on admin@idwl.info.
