Designed to improve health and safety by regulating the number of hours that employees can work
Only those who are not employed (eg self employed) or who opt out are exempt
Until 2004 junior doctors were exempt from EWTD - practical solution for implementation for a 5-year implementation that (1) by 2004 - 58 hour maximum (2) 2007 - 56 hour maximum (3) 2009 48 hour maximum
Key Points to the EWTD
Minimum of 4 weeks paid annual leave
Minimum of 11 hours continous rest in every 24 hour period
Minimum of 20 minutes break after every 6 hours worked
Minimum period of 24h continous rest in every 7 day period
Maximum of 8 hours work in each 24 h for night workers
SiMap (2000) and Jaeger (2003) judgements by the European Court of Justice regarding the status of work done whilst on call
Any time spent as resident on call should count towards the 48 hours (whether actively working or not); if off-site on call, only the time spent actively dealing with patients or related matters would count towards the 48h limit
If the requirements of the EWTD cannot be met (eg for an emergency) then you are entitled to compensatory rest
Advantages
Disadvantages
Better work-life balance
Improved safety for patients
Less continuity of care
Reduced training opportunities
Other Implications
Greater numbers of doctors needed (medical school expansion, increased recruitment)
Implement New Ways of Working (new staff roles, physicians assistants), reconfigure services
Optimise the allocation between day and night care
