Can trusts simply ask junior doctors to sign the opt-out from the WTD?
Answer Opting out of the working hours requirement is entirely voluntary, so no member of staff can be pressured into signing up to it. If an individual chooses to opt-out and changes their mind, they need to give between one week and three months notice (depending on period agreed when signing the opt-out). These features of the opt-out make it difficult to plan services with confidence. If a doctor in training chooses to opt-out they cannot exceed an average of 56-hours of active work, or 72 hours including resident on-call time per week, as specified in their New Deal contracts.
