Health Secretary Andy Burnham announced on Friday (26/06/09) that the ‘overwhelming majority’ of junior doctors’ work rotas would be compliant with the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) by 1 August. Mr Burnham said:

'This is great news for patients and NHS staff as it will improve patient safety and the work-life balance of junior doctors.’

Around 3 per cent of NHS services have been given more time to comply with the EWTD, including those offering 24-hour immediate patient care, which may be situated away from large areas of population, making it difficult to recruit more doctors. Hospitals undergoing redesigns have also been allowed more time to comply with the EWTD.

Mr Burnham said that the UK remained committed to making sure junior doctors worked and trained in safety, in accordance with the requirements of the EWTD. He added that the independent scrutiny panel appointed to review compliance with the EWTD was ‘listening to the concerns of clinicians’ – and that the panel would continue to work closely with the medical profession to support individual hospitals.

National Clinical Director for the European Working Time Directive, Dr Wendy Reid, said:

'Tired doctors are not safe doctors, so this is excellent news for patient safety. We are also concerned for our workforce and the hours they work, so we are delighted that they will have an improved work life balance.’

© 5r1 Limited

Free Medical Negligence Claim Advice

If you or a loved one has suffered from medical negligence by a doctor, then contact 5r1 Claims. Our expert panel of medical negligence claims solicitors can provide you free legal advice on making a doctors negligence claim. 5r1 claims will not ask you to pay if your medical negligence claim should fail and no money will be deducted from your medical negligence compensation should you win your medical negligence claim. Contact 5r1 Claims today to discuss your medical negligence claim. 

Freephone: 0808 222 0101 (lines open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)