The responses indicate that nearly half of hospital doctors’ rotas may fail to comply with the new European Working Time Directive (EWTD) regulations, implemented in August 2009.

The survey carried out by Remedy, shows that 47% of rotas were failing to comply with the regulations, in stark contrast to government claims. The apparent reason for the discrepancy is the number of rotas which meet the target on paper yet fail to do so in practice.

Individual responses from mainly middle-grade doctors around the country paint a picture of disillusion and demoralization among doctors, and bullying and manipulation from management.

Remedy believes the present situation is a sham. We urge individual doctors to exercise their right to ‘opt out’, and we call for greater honesty.

309 complete replies were received. Respondents mentioned that:-

“On paper the rota is compliant. In reality, in order to make the rotas compliant, cover has been reduced to unsafe levels … I'm routinely working 2-3 hrs past my shift finish time… I've been told by personnel that my consultant will have to sign to say that I had to be there due to an emergency. The consultant has made it clear he will do no such thing as he is under pressure from management … This essentially goes for all juniors … in this trust.”

“We … have agreed off the record to provide more weekend cover than is on paper in order to preserve a rota that will keep us on duty during weekday ‘office hours’ which is when the majority of our training occurs.”

“Actual hours worked has no resemblance to contracted hours ... I have no problem with working the hours required to get adequate training, but it makes me unhappy that managers get to congratulate themselves for rotas being EWTD compliant...”

“Trusts should have the courage to be honest.” said Lindsay Cooke from Remedy. “They should take a more realistic view over derogation, rather than participating in government-sponsored abuse of doctors’ work ethic. Tell the truth, someone.”

The reduction in doctors’ hours comes at a time when NHS trusts in some areas of the UK are finding it difficult to provide hospital cover with middle grade doctors. In Wales there are up to 25 per cent vacancies in some key specialties with nearly 200 doctor vacancies in four Welsh NHS trusts alone.

The full results of the survey can be obtained from here