Mediplacements - Recruitment and retention 'critical to EWTD compliance'

Recruitment and retention 'critical to EWTD compliance'

Tuesday 2nd June 2009

Recruiting and retaining people in hospital doctor jobs across Wales will be crucial to successful compliance with the European Working Time Directive (EWTD), an expert has said.

Dr David Samuel, chair of the British Medical Association's Welsh junior doctors' committee (WJDC), told the Western Mail that with less than two months to go until the EWTD becomes law for all junior doctors, a number of challenges still need to be addressed.

From August 1st, junior doctors will be allowed to work a maximum of 48 hours a week. Dr Samuel said that at present, many shift rotas have unfilled posts and the use of internal cover or external locums is often required.

The EWTD's limit on working hours will place additional strain on resources and may make it "impossible" to operate rotas on a daily basis.

Ensuring more doctors are recruited - and retained - will therefore be critical to compliance with the directive and the WJDC is working with the Welsh Assembly Government to examine new ways of keeping healthcare workers in the principality.

Possible initiatives could include enhanced personal benefits, expanding free accommodation to newly-qualified doctors and a possible adoption of the "golden hello" programmes that have proved successful in areas such as teaching and industry, he said.

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