SHO clinical exposure following the introduction of an EWTD-compliant shift system

Over the past 12 years the hours of work for doctors' training have been markedly reduced. In 1991 the New Deal and a maximum of 72 hours per working week was first introduced. 1 In 1998 the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) came into effect but did not initially apply to doctors in training. By August 2004 all doctors in training came under the remit of the EWTD, which stipulated a maximum of 58 hours per working week.