Working time regulations for trainee doctors

doi:10.1136/bmj.b4488

Published 5 November 2009, doi:10.1136/bmj.b4488
Cite this as: BMJ 2009;339:b4488

Editorials

Working time regulations for trainee doctors

Creating more flexibility around current working is the solution

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

In the linked analysis article (doi:10.1136/bmj.b4260), PurcellJackson and Tarpley describe their concern that surgical traineesin the United States might be forced to work within a maximum80 hour week.¹ Meanwhile, the European Working Time Directive(EWTD) demands that all trainee doctors in Europe work an averageof only 48 hours a week,² and the Royal College of Surgeonsof England is appealing for all their trainees to be alloweda 65 hour average week.³ Although Purcell Jackson and Tarpley’sconcern that a maximum of 80 hours a week is insufficient forsurgical trainees to gain the necessary experience, their argumentthat all surgical trainees need to be available all the time—forexample, to observe rare procedures such as elective surgeryon conjoined twins—overstates the case. How can we strikethe right balance between gaining sufficient experience, ensuringsafe working practices, and allowing doctors to have a . . . [Full text of this article]

Roy Pounder, emeritus professor of medicine, chairman¹^,2

¹ University of London, London WC1E 7HU, ² RotaGeek Ltd, London NW3 6BT

roypounder@gmail.com

CiteULike

Complore

Connotea

Del.icio.us Add to Digg

Digg

StumbleUpon Add to Technorati

Technorati

Twitter What's this?

Relevant Articles

Wendy Reid replies to Roy Pounder: Wendy Reid
BMJ 2009 339: b5352. [Extract] [Full Text]

How long does it take to train a surgeon?: Gretchen Purcell Jackson and John L Tarpley
BMJ 2009 339: b4260. [Extract] [Full Text]

Crunch time for doctors’ hours: Fiona Godlee
BMJ 2009 339: b4569. [Extract] [Full Text]

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Surgeon training and physician assistants: Margaret E Allen
bmj.com, 10 Nov 2009 [Full text]
Response from Professor Wendy Reid - National Clinical Advisor for the European Working Time Directive: Wendy Reid
bmj.com, 4 Dec 2009 [Full text]
Working Time Regulations BMJ 2009;339;b4488: john richard ponsford
bmj.com, 1 Jan 2010 [Full text]