BMA surveys of members’ views on the European Working Time Directive


April 2008

In February 2008, the BMA undertook two separate surveys to find out what members’ views were on the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) and the effect of the Directive on junior doctors’ working hours and training.

BMA survey of junior doctor working arrangements and the EWTD
A postal survey ‘BMA survey of junior doctor working arrangements and the European Working Time Directive’ was sent to 3000 junior doctor BMA members on 8 February 2008. Completed surveys were returned by 470 respondents between 8 February and 24 March 2008. This represents a response rate of 16 per cent.

Key findings:
  • Most (99%) respondents were aware of the EWTD and of the August 2009 deadline for junior doctors for a 48 hour week (90%). Respondents reporting an awareness of other aspects of the Directive were lower; less than one third of respondents (29%) were aware that all junior doctor rotas must be in Band 1 by the August 2009 deadline.
  • 54% of respondents reported that the 48hr week would have a positive effect on their health and safety and 55% reported there would be a positive effect on their quality of life.
  • Almost two thirds (64%) of respondents reported that compliance with the 48-hr week would have a negative effect on their training overall.
  • 50% of junior doctors reported that they had regularly experienced pressured to work additional hours on top of their usual working pattern. 41% of doctors reported they regularly experienced a need to undertake training (and 29% reported they regularly experienced a need to provide service) during rostered time off.
  • 45% of respondents disagreed that doctors in their specialty could be trained in a 48 hour week and almost half (47%) reported that improved working patterns that protected training time could help. Over two thirds (68%) also reported that the number of years junior doctors spend training in a specialty should be increased to enable the required competencies to be achieved within the hours they are contracted to work.
  • Over half of doctors (57%) agreed that junior doctors should be able to opt out of the hours limits, either individually or by specialty. Respondents were concerned there would be pressure to opt out of a maximum average working week by employers with 57% of doctors reporting they were very concerned or concerned. 60% of respondents reported that working excessive hours had compromised their ability to provide good medical care in the past.
  • Almost three quarters of junior doctors (71%) agreed that all time spent in the hospital should count as work.
BMA survey of members views on the EWTD
An on-line survey ‘BMA survey of members’ views on the European Working Time Directive’ was sent to 3629 BMA members of all relevant groups (medical students, junior doctors, staff and associate specialists, consultants and GP trainees) on 15 February 2008. Completed surveys were returned by 848 respondents between 15 February and 27 March 2008. This represents a response rate of 23 per cent.

Some of the questions in this on-line questionnaire were used in the survey of junior doctors but it should be noted that the methodology for the research was different so direct comparisons cannot be drawn.

Key findings:
  • 96% of respondents reported that they knew what the EWTD was. The numbers of respondents reporting an awareness of other aspects of the Directive were lower; less than one third of respondents (31%) were aware that on 1 August 2009 all junior doctor rotas must be in Band 1.
  • Nearly half (47%) of all career grade doctors surveyed reported that they worked more than 48 hours per week, of those 9% reported they had signed an opt-out.
  • Almost half of responses from respondents (47%) indicated concern about the likely impact of the new EWTD arrangements for 2009 on overall patient care. 60 per cent of responses from respondents also indicated concern about the impact on the quality of junior doctors training and two thirds of responses from respondents indicated concern about the impact on the ability of junior doctors to gain the required levels of competency to practice safe medicine.
  • Over half (57%) of respondents disagreed that it will be possible to train a junior doctor in any specialty whilst complying with a 48 hour week. 41% agreed that implementation of improved working patterns that protect training time should enable junior doctors to train to the required competency during the hours they are contracted to work, 39% disagreed. 65% of respondents reported that the number of years junior doctors spend training in a specialty should be increased to enable the required competencies to be achieved within the hours they are contracted to work.
  • 67% of respondents reported that junior doctors should be able to opt out of the hours limits either individually or collectively. 66% of respondents reported that all grades of doctors should be able to opt out.

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