GMC quality assurance of Specialty including GP training and the EWTR - September 2009 to June 2010

The GMC has led a review of all the quality assurance evidence on the impact of EWTR on specialty including GP training.

The review chaired by Professor David Haslam, the former president of the Royal College of General Practitioners, presents a mixed picture of how training is being delivered and managed within the 48-hour week. Although many specialties raise no or few concerns, in some, implementing EWTR appears to be creating significant problems, including lost training time and difficulties in balancing training with the demands of delivering care to patients.

The report notes that rota gaps and vacancies are a key set of problems exacerbated by the 48-hour week but it is not a causal relationship. It points out that the new arrangements were introduced into a system already under considerable strain with not enough doctors to provide adequate cover in all areas.

See the report GMC quality assurance of Specialty including GP training and the European Working Time Regulations - September 2009 to June 2010 (pdf).

Read more about the GMC's work on the European Working Time Regulations including the previous report by PMETB, or see the press release about this review and the report on the 2010 National Training Surveys.