title: Implementation of the European Working Time Directive in an NHS trust: impact on patient care and junior doctor welfare.
abstract: To comply with the European Working Time Directive (EWTD), from 1 August 2009, junior doctors are required to work no more than 48 hours per week. In accordance with this, East Sussex Hospitals Trust introduced changes to working practice in August 2007. To assess the impact upon patient care and junior doctor welfare a retrospective observational survey comparing data from the year prior to and the year following August 2007 was conducted. No impact on the standard of patient care, as measured by length of stay, death during admission or readmission was found. However, there was a notable increase in episodes of sick leave among junior doctors. Implementation of the EWTD may maintain standards of patient care but may be detrimental to the welfare of doctors in training.
authors.affiliation: The Conquest Hospital, East Sussex Hospitals Trust, St. Leonards on Sea. hugh.mcintyre@esht.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Hugh F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: McIntyre
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Winfield
authors.forename: Hui Sen
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Te
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Crook
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005791:Patient Care; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006113:United Kingdom