How protective is the working time directive?

doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7461.301

BMJ 2004;329:301-302 (7 August), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7461.301

Editorial

How protective is the working time directive?

The aim of improving workers' safety and protection has gotlost in the confusion

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Although the aim of the European Working Time Directive is toimprove workers' safety and protection, it seems to have causeda collective headache for member states since its conceptionmore than 10 years ago. The resulting debates and modificationshave elevated this humble headache to a full blown migrainenow that the directive has been extended to include doctorsin training (p 310).¹

In 1993 the European commission stipulated the minimal requirementsto limit working time to a maximum of 48 hours a week by November1996. For the medical profession, this included all doctorsother than doctors in training. For various reasons, the UnitedKingdom lagged behind and the directive was not implementeduntil October 1998.

As the directive stands there is only work and resting—noin between such as on-call times, when the doctor may not actuallybe working. The commission is also concerned about . . . [Full text of this article]

Rhona MacDonald, editor, Career Focus

(rmacdonald@bmj.com) BMA House, London WC1H 9JR

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Rapid Responses:

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typo?: alex d rodway
bmj.com, 7 Aug 2004 [Full text]
Where's the vocationalism?: Daniel P Edgcumbe
bmj.com, 9 Aug 2004 [Full text]
Thanks for spotting the typo: Rhona MacDonald
bmj.com, 10 Aug 2004 [Full text]
The Impact of the EWTD on surgical training: Steven J Robinson
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Reply to Rhona MacDonald: Dr T D Magowan
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Patient safety and hours worked: Frank A. Frizelle, et al.
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