Royal College of Surgeons condemn European Working Time Directive

The Royal College of Surgeons are all over the news giving grim warnings of the impact of the European Working Time Directive which comes into force today.

The EU law - which Britain looks set to bow down to - will limit the number of working hours each week to 48.

The Royal College of Surgeons say: "[T]he College and the vast majority of surgeons believe that a 48 hour week for surgeons in the NHS is a major threat to safe patient care which will result in very thin medical cover with multiple handovers, and will devastate standards of training. In addition, the College knows from its surveys that it is not deliverable because the doctors to staff paper compliant rotas do not exist".

They note that they have made representations on this matter but say: "It is a matter of regret and frustration that government has not listened".

They are advising their members: "If in your opinion inadequate cover or a rushed handover have harmed a patient, fill in an incident form. It is your duty as a doctor".

John Black, President of the Royal College of Surgeons writes: "It is interesting that the feedback I am getting suggests that other European countries are ignoring the EWTD, even as close to home as Ireland".

The British Medical Association is also raising concerns. Dr. Andy Thornley, chair of the BMA's junior doctors' committee, warns: "Our members are worried about their training; many feel it has reduced in quality as working hours have been reduced".

Of course, this Government will make sure Britain follows the EU rules. Isn't that the way this always works? The European Union make laws that have a negative impact, most European Union loving nations ignore them and Britain - where the majority of people want nothing to do with the EU - steadfastly makes itself subservient to each and every diktat.

Now, it seems, it might genuinely be harmful to our health.

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Yorkshire Post writer Bill Carmichael seems to be singing off the same hymn sheet as this blog. He writes:

Our elected politicians in Westminster are so in thrall to the EU that they would never countenance disobeying a direct order from their unelected masters in Brussels.

When the Eurocrats shout "jump", British ministers reply "how high?".

So tomorrow, the EWTD will come into force – regardless of the risk to public health.

But what is worse is that – as with all EU legislation – the UK will "goldplate" the rules to make them almost impossible to live with.

My friends in France fall about laughing when they learn of the hoops we jump through to obey "EU rules".

They, like all of our European partners, have a much more sensible approach to EU bureaucracy – if they don't like the rules, they simply ignore them. And their governments – equally sensibly – leave them alone to get on with their lives.