A step towards being EWTD compliant: a single institution study of the cardiothoracic surgery experience.

: The introduction of the European Working Time Directive has led to intensive debate regarding the working conditions, training and service delivery of Non Consultant Hospital Doctors. Surgical specialties are especially affected by the directive as they have always been associated with long working hours. These have been defended on the basis that these were required to achieve surgical competence. This study aims to survey the working hours and examine the activity of cardiothoracic surgery trainees, who traditionally worked long hours, in a single institution. Arising from the survey results, a novel working model is proposed.