Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSEuro working time directive will reduce patient safety, warn nurses
More than half of nurses think the European working time directive could have a negative effect on patient safety, according to an online survey by Nursing Times.
The deadline for full compliance with the directive is 1 August. Its main effect has been to drastically reduce junior doctor hours, which the Department of Health has been keen to promote as a positive for patient safety.
In an interview with Nursing Times, Wendy Reid, the government’s clinical lead on the directive, said: ‘What’s coming more clearly from patients is that they don’t want tired doctors. They are well aware that tiredness kills.’
But only 17% of more than 500 survey respondents thought that the directive would result in improved patient safety. Many said they were concerned about having to take on some of the work traditionally done by doctors, especially during out of hours, without sufficient training or staff.
One respondent said: ‘Overall, nurses are stretched to the limit in most areas. Now they must undertake doctors’ work, so there are even fewer hours to carry out their own duties – patient care will suffer.’
Another said: ‘Some nurses may well take it upon themselves to do more than they are supposed to do.’
A further respondent said: ‘While certain nurses I feel have the level of knowledge and competence to deal with the diverse needs that need to be met during the hours that the doctors are not available, it still remains that nurses are not doctors. I think the effects may be seen with an increase in NMC tribunals.’
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Readers' comments (2)
josephine darvill | 6-Jun-2009 11:37 am
Lets face it the doctors do work long hours and are entitled to a social life and time off. Like us if they want to work extra they couls do bank or agency.
Nurses can say the word no if basic nursing care is being compromised.
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Ezesomaga Ejimogu | 19-Jun-2009 8:19 pm
I think patient care can only improve when nurses take up the role traditionally filled by doctors. One thing we need to be clear about is that the nurses that already cover for doctors are advanced practice nurses (ANP), not staff nurses, and not ward sisters. And that is how it will hopefully remain. It can be argued very strongly that the government hit a gold mine when they introduced the role of ANP. They are cheaper to train, and they bring the skills and approach of a nurse to the role of a doctor. There are not many doctors out there who can assess and dress a wound.
The issue of commensurate pay needs to be addressed by nursing organisations. And I look forward to the days when these excellent clinicians(ANPs) are paid for the work they do.
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