It is a requirement of the NHS Executive that junior doctors' hours should be monitored and for trusts to be “new deal accredited” by their regional task force, but progress has been slow. The BMA's Junior Doctors Committee has produced a guide on effective monitoring of the hours of work deal. Monitoring Compliance with the New Deal recommends that monitoring should be part of an overall strategy for achieving and maintaining the limits on hours. There should be a trust based new deal working group, which typically includes representatives of senior management, nurses, consultants, and junior staff. The guide sets out methods of monitoring-for example, telephone or postal questionnaires can be used. Junior doctors can be asked to keep a diary on a day to day basis or record their activities and rest periods. Another method is for junior doctors to be shadowed by others to establish whether rest periods are attained or what activities the junior doctor is involved in. The guide can be obtained from the JDC, BMA House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JP.