Junior doctors asked for more data on hours worked

Abstract

The BMA's Junior Doctors Committee is asking all hospital junior doctors to supply details of the actual hours they work and the intensity of work so that comparisons can be made with the returns from regional task forces. The committee, which is asking for questionnaires to be returned by 30 November, believes that there are still major problems in reaching the target set for 31 December. The government's figures are based on the hours for which junior doctors are contracted to work and do not, according to the JDC, reflect the hours doctors are working once time spent on early starts, late finishes, and cover for colleagues' absences is taken into account. Under the new deal on doctors' hours no doctors should be on their feet and working for more than an average of 56 hours a week after that date. The hours should be reduced to 64 hours for those on a partial shift and to 72 hours for those on an on call rota. One of the questions asks for information about the amount of rest doctors get when on call to show whether or not the majority of doctors are working an appropriate working pattern and being paid at an appropriate rate. If they are able to do so the JDC would like doctors to name their base hospital or NHS trust so that details of problem posts and specialties can be sent to the relevant task force. A new subcommittee of the BMA's Central Consultants and Specialists Committee has been formed to represent clinical and medical directors. …