Questionnaire survey of British Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology And Nutrition (BSPGHAN) members to examine workload and resources for paediatric gastroenterologists

摘要

The new consultant contract (CC), the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) of 48 hours per week,1 and shift in continuity of care to consultants are threatening workload and quality of life for consultants and quality of service to patients. To provide data on the situation for UK paediatric gastroenterologists (PGI), we sent a questionnaire to the BSPGHAN membership. Thirty seven of 72 clinical consultants (51.4%) in the UK replied, giving comprehensive experiential data at a critical time. Most consultants work more than EWTD (median 50, range 42–64 hours per week; mean 17% more than EWTD). Only 10 felt their employers wanted them to comply, suggesting the significance of the EWTD is not appreciated at Trust level or there is limited intention to observe it.