Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSSwine flu warning over EU working time laws
New EU laws that restrict the number of hours junior doctors are allowed to work could wreak havoc in the NHS if a second wave of swine flu breaks out in the autumn, medics have warned.
The Royal College of Surgeons and pressure group RemedyUK, warned that young doctors could be forced to lie about how long they have worked to fit in with the European Working Time Directive, which cuts the working week from 56 to 48 hours.
In May, a survey revealed that a number of junior doctors had been instructed to lie about how many hours they had worked so they could meet the new regulations ‘on paper’.
Dr Andy Thornley, chairman of the British Medical Association’s junior doctors’ committee, warned of potential gaps in rotas.
He said: ‘We are not reassured by government reports that the NHS is 97% compliant with the new working time regulation as we fear many junior doctors are being pressured to lie about their hours.
‘Solutions rely on hospital managers working with doctors to ensure that doctors’ time is best used and all training opportunities are maximised.’
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