New survey highlights risks of EWTD in restricting juniors’ hours

15 January 2010

NEW laws restricting junior doctors’ working hours are benefiting nurses but endangering patients, according to a new survey.

The European Working Time Directive, introduced in August 2009, has led to more advanced nursing roles, according to 60 per cent of the 548 respondents. More than half – 56 per cent – said they were more inclined to challenge medical staff as a result of the change.

But half of those surveyed for The Nursing Times said patients were being put in danger because of the directive, compared to 39 per cent who said they were not. And 71 per cent said the extra work had left them less time to carry out basic nursing duties while 70 per cent said it had led to gaps in medical cover.

Nearly two thirds (64 per cent) said there was greater pressure on nurses to make clinical decisions. The most common extra responsibility was deciding if and when to call in specialists or transfer patients to higher dependency units or intensive care.

A third (34 per cent) of nurses said they had not had sufficient training for tasks they were carrying out as a result of the directive. And 41 per cent said they were uncomfortable with the level of responsibility they had taken on. More than a third (34 per cent) had witnessed more clinical errors since August 1, 67 per cent of which were by nurses.

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