European Working Time Directive associated with poor patient handover

Poor patient handovers following the launch of the European Working Time Directive pose a significant medicolegal risk for doctors, warns the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS).

Members are worried at the potential breakdown in continuity of care as patients find they are repeatedly handed over to doctors on different shifts, it says. Poor handover procedures might expose patients to potential or actual harm, it believes.

The MDDUS is backing the Royal College of Physicians in warning that that changing shift patterns should not detract from the responsibility of doctors to ensure that safe and efficient care is delivered.

Anthea Martin, senior medical adviser at the MDDUS, says: “Doctors must remember their obligation in terms of good medical practice to ‘communicate effectively with colleagues’ and to be satisfied that suitable arrangements are in place to ensure safe and effective handover of patient care.”

Meanwhile, a survey of 500 junior doctors carried out by healthcare staffing provider PULSE and medeConnect, the research arm of the Doctors.net.uk group, shows that because of the directive doctors are battling to balance service delivery with gaining the experience needed to progress their careers.

Two thirds of junior doctors surveyed said the restrictions had had a detrimental effect on training. One trainee surgeon claimed that opportunities have been reduced to such an extent that, “in 10-15 years time, the NHS will find itself with a generation of surgeons who can’t operate.”

More than three quarters of junior doctors believed that implementation of the European Working Time Directive has resulted in trends towards “poorly managed rotas” and “insufficient cover on wards,” as well as a “lack of training opportunities.”

Just 16% agreed that the directive has increased the amount of study time available and fewer than one third said it has reduced levels of fatigue for junior doctors.