John,
Each Trust has a requirement under H&S legislation to ensure that European
guidelines are followed. It is *essential* that these records are filled in
as accurately as possible. They are a starting point for Trusts to assess
where they need to get to to comply with legislation.
Each Doc has the right to opt out of the requirements if they wish - thus
you can continue to work all the hours God gave you - however it would be
interesting to see what a court of law would say if there was a problem with
one of your patients at the end of a gruelling session.
This is an opportunity for those Consultants who feel hard done by to have
the power of the H&S executive behind them.
I look on this as an opportunity, an additional bargaining tool, that
colleagues can use to aim for appropriate levels of experienced staff in
their departments. We as a specialty should be looking for staffing levels
comparable to Anaesthetics. It will take time but I don't think this is a
paper exercise.
Dpw
Bath
> ----------
> From: [log in to unmask][SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 29 September 1999 12:50
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Willies
>
> I am suprised no one has yet mentioned the potential problems that the EEC
>
> Directive on Working Time under the Working Time Regulations 1998 could
> bring. It is supposedly health and safety legislation to protect employees
>
> from working excessive hours. These provide for:
>
> a limit of an average of 48 hours worked per week
> a limit of 8 hours worked in every 24 hour period for night work
> a weekly rest of 24 hours every week
> an entitlement to 11 hours consecutive rest per day
> an entitlement to a minimum 20 minute rest break where the working day is
> longer than 6 hours
> a requirement on the employer to keep records of hours worked
>
> I have been asked to keep a diary by medical staffing for the next 4 weeks
>
> of hours worked. They say the information will be used for the purpose of
>
> ensuring the provisions of the Directive are implemented. Hmm, I wonder
> what they will really do, their hands are tied by financial resrtaint and
> they know full well what goes on already. The cynic would suggest this is
> a
> wasteful paper exercise.
>
> The recommendations of compensatory rest entiltlement that I have to
> include
> are remarkable:
>
> Add 11 hours to my compensatory rest total for each day where this has not
>
> been awarded
>
> Add 24 hours to my total if I do not receive 24 hours of rest in a week
> without significant interruption
>
> Add 48 hours to my total if I do not receive 48 hours of rest over 2 weeks
>
> without significant interruption
>
> Add 20 minutes for each 6 hour work period worked without a 20 minute
> break.
>
> !!!! So now who's going to the work ? If the above was implemented I'd be
>
> on holiday most of the time ! Either this will get paid lip service
> (which
> I suspect as this certainly is what is happening to a large extent at the
> moment or we are going to need a lot more senior A&E docs, in a hurry.)
>
>
>
>
> Dr John M Ryan
>
> Consultant & Senior Lecturer in A&E medicine
> Royal Sussex County Hospital
> Eastern Rd.
> Brighton
> BN2 5BE
> UK
>
> Ph; 00 44 1273 696955
> Fax: 00 44 1273 680627
>
> http://www.pavilion.co.uk/users/ryanj/
> http://www.rsch.org.uk/rsch/rschae.htm
>
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