The European Working Time Directive: potential impact on cardiology specialist registrar training

The European Working Time Directive (EWTD) ensures doctors do not work excessive hours. On 1st August 2004, junior doctors were no longer excluded from the EWTD and their working hours were limited by law to 58 hours per week. By 2009, this will be reduced to 48 hours. Although benefits include improved patient care,1 the EWTD has implications for service provision and specialist registrar (SpR) training.