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Qual Saf Health Care 2006;15:445-446 doi:10.1136/qshc.2006.019489
  • Letter

Effect of European working time directive on a stroke unit

  1. M O McCarron1,
  2. M Armstrong1,
  3. P McCarron2
  1. 1Acute Stroke Unit, Department of Neurology, Altnagelvin Hospital, Londonderry, UK
  2. 2Department of Epidemiology and Public Health Medicine, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
 M McCarron
 Department of Neurology, Altnagelvin Hospital, Londonderry BT47 6SB, UK; markmccarron{at}doctors.org.uk
  • Accepted 16 June 2006

The European working time directive (EWTD) was introduced into National Health Service hospitals for doctors in training in August 2004.1 Mounting evidence had shown that fatigue in doctors contributes to adverse events in patients.2 However, the implementation of potential quality improvements requires an understanding of whole healthcare systems.3 Before the introduction of the EWTD, our stroke ward had a resident senior house officer who provided weekday care, ensuring that all patients were medically reviewed on a daily basis. This is required, …

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