Surgical training deteriorates under EWTD
2 December 2009
A survey has revealed that many junior surgeons feel that the quality of training has deteriorated since the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) was implemented in August 2009.
The survey, compiled by the Association of Surgeons in Training (ASiT) and the British Orthopaedic Trainee Association (BOTA), received responses from over 1,600 surgeons-in-training from all specialties.
Over two-thirds of respondents thought that the quality of training they received had worsened since August. A similar figure (67%) reported that they stay at work beyond their official working hours to ensure they receive enough training and experience to fully develop their skills.
The survey also revealed that:
- Around 84% of respondents admitted to working longer hours than allowed under EWTD rules, in order to ensure patients are cared for properly
- Nearly 86% of surgical trainees working in accordance with EWTD rules think their work-life balance has deteriorated or remained the same
- While 15% of trainees have already opted-out of the EWTD, a further 67% of trainee surgeons are planning to do so.
The ASiT believes that the EWTD is forcing surgical training to be “driven underground” by covering up the amount of unregulated hours worked, in order to comply with the regulations. It claims that this compromises patient safety more than if surgeons were officially allowed to put in more hours at work.