When the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) was introduced in rotas at 77 English hospital trusts in August 2009 they felt ‘derogated’ being allowed to operate at a maximum 52-hour week instead of 48 hours until 31 July 2011.

A report by BMJ Careers shows that the majority of the 300 doctors in training rotas exempted from the 48-hour limit on working time imposed by the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) are now compliant.

A freedom of information request by BMJ Careers received a total response rate from 57 trusts who confirmed that their training rotas are now compliant with the 48 hour limit stipulated in the directive. Whereas some trusts reported that they had already complied with the 48-hour limit in 2009, others, including Stamford and Peterborough Hospital Trusts had only ensured compliance by October 2011.

Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust reported that they anticipate achieving compliance by this autumn, as they experienced difficulty in recruiting for some posts.

The news was welcomed by Ben Molyneux, deputy chair of the BMA’s Junior Doctors Committee. He said: “I would be very concerned if they hadn’t done it. If they are operating outside of 48 hours they’re operating illegally.”

Written by: Petra Rattue