It is over a year since RCPI released its statement concerning the implementation of the EWTD. In the statement, RCPI expressed three primary areas of concern regarding the implementation: care of the acutely ill patient; outpatient care; and the adverse impact on specialist training.

Fast forward to today and these concerns are still as worrying as they were a year ago. For example, we are receiving feedback from Trainees that: the introduction of a shift system for doctors has led to fragmentation in the coherence of the clinical team and has lead to a fundamental loss of continuity of care; the introduction of EWTD has had a severe impact on the management and operation of outpatient clinics and diagnostic evaluation due to members of the clinical team not being available to attend these clinics; and that crucial training experience gained in outpatient clinics and at post-take ward rounds is being reduced and, as a result, is having a direct impact on patient care.

To obtain real data on what the current situation is at hospitals around the country, RCPI is surveying its Trainees and Trainers to understand the impact the implementation the EWTD is having on patient care, training, morale and job satisfaction.

The surveys can be accessed via the links below and will take no more than 10 minutes to complete. The closing date is 22 July 2011.

Trainer Survey
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RCPITrainerSurveyApril2011  

Trainee Survey
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RCPITraineeSurveyApril2011  

The College appreciates you filling out this report and looks forward to your response. Thank you for supporting this important initiative.

Contact Details
Claire Hughes
Acting Manager, College and Faculties Office
Phone:  +353 1 863 9700
Fax:   +353 1 672 4707
Email:  clairehughes@rcpi.ie