EU WORK DIRECTIVE: Anaesthetists have become the latest group of doctors to express serious concern about the planned implementation in just over a week's time of a new EU directive aimed at reducing junior doctors' hours.
The College of Anaesthetists has warned operations will have to be cancelled if the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) is implemented on August 1st, as is required by law.
Under the directive the hours of junior doctors must be cut to an average of 58 hours a week. They now work an average of 72 hours a week and many hospitals are dependent on them working such hours to enable them provide current levels of service.
The College of Anaesthetists yesterday called for the directive to the implemented on a phased basis. The Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland have already made similar pleas.
Prof Howard Fee, President of the College of Anaesthetists Training Committee and Dr Rory Dwyer, its chairman, said they supported phased implementation of the EWTD "when the infrastructure is in place to ensure this will not impact adversely on patient care, on the quality of training, and on the quality of life of our trainees".
In a statement to The Irish Times, they said they were concerned at the introduction of rotas where there were only a small number of doctors to cover night and weekend work. The new rotas are being created to reduce the doctors hours. Failure to reduce their hours leaves hospitals liable for large fines. The move, the doctors said, would "inevitably have serious undesirable consequences, including a reduction in the daytime availability of trainee anaesthetists. This will impact negatively on the anaesthesia service since fewer trainees (junior doctors) will be present in the hospital during normal working hours when the vast majority of operations and other interventions take place".
It will also lead to decreased training opportunities for anaesthetists because the bulk of teaching takes place during normal working hours, they said.
They added that the resources and organisational changes needed for successful implementation of the directive could not be put in place in the short term. "These inadequacies must, however, be addressed and the necessary resources provided if the EWTD is to be implemented without deleterious effects on medical education and the quality of life of trainee specialists and their families."
The Minister for Health, Mr Martin has said not all hospitals will be able to comply with the directive on August 1st.