GMC welcomes review of EWTD

The General Medical Council (GMC) has welcomed the recent independent review into the impact the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) has had on the medical sector.

Niall Dickinson, chief executive of the GMC, said Sir John Temple’s report represents an “important contribution” to the body’s ongoing efforts to monitor the repercussions of the regulations.

The report has underlined a number of negative effects of the 48-hour week, including cuts to training time offered to junior doctors and an overreliance on trainees to cover for the absence of more experienced staff.

Mr Dickinson said it remains “early days” in assessing the full impact of the EWTD, but said Sir John’s report “clearly highlighted” several frontline problems.

He added: “The GMC has a key role, with others, in ensuring that these problems are addressed so that the quality of training is maintained and enhanced.”

John Black, president of the Royal College of Surgeons, agreed that the review outlines major issues with the implementation of the EWTD, but criticised the report for failing to provide workable remedies.