Resident Doctors (Wales)
Resident Doctors (Wales)
With effect from November 2024, Doctors previously known as "Junior Doctor" or "Doctors in Training" are referred to as Resident Doctor as requested by BMA and agreed by Welsh Government.
The contract for doctors in training previously negotiated and agreed between representatives of each of the 4 UK home countries, the service throughout the NHS including in Wales, and the BMA through a body known as the JNC(J) remains in place in NHS Wales.
In Wales, the WRDC (Welsh Resident doctors committee) considers all matters affecting junior doctors in Wales and acts on their behalf. They do this by informing, liaising and collaborating with Welsh Government, HEIW (Health Education and Improvement Wales), NWSSP (NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership), NHS Wales Employers and local health boards. They also work closely with the Welsh council and the UKRDC.
Fatigue and Facilities Charter 2020 - Wales
The Fatigue and Facilities Charter in Wales has been developed in partnership by BMA Cymru Wales, NHS Wales Employers and Welsh Government to provide a comprehensive and ambitious set of standards, recognising the opportunities for NHS Wales employers to work towards in enhancing the working environment for Resident doctors in Wales.
The charter contains provisions beyond the 2002 terms and conditions of service for resident doctors in Wales, ensuring fewer long days and consecutive shifts, as well as setting a standard for rest facilities during shifts and for facilities to sleep in if you’re too tired to drive home.
It also outlines a robust framework for monitoring the implementation of the charter through LNCs (local negotiating committees) and a defined senior employer representative appointed by each health board.
This charter is the first step in a wider shift in attitudes to fatigue in the workplace and will be actively monitoring implementation of the charter nationally in partnership with Welsh Government and NHS Wales Employers.
The toolkit is a comprehensive and supportive mechanism which can be utilised by health boards to enable the implementation of the Fatigue and Facilities Charter; the toolkit provides assistance on the stages of progression in meeting the charter, as well as containing aids to capture and share good practice.