Top Surgeon Calls For New Opt Out

03-03-2006

Bernard Ribeiro, president of the Royal College of Surgeons, has called for a new opt-out for doctors after warning that the EU Working Time Directive is having a damaging impact on patient care.

He has formally written to Tony Blair asking for an exemption from the 2003 Working Time Directive for surgeons in training.

"Many surgeons genuinely wish to work longer than the permitted hours to maintain the highest standards of care today and to train. Without this option, surgery faces formidable challenges in delivering the quality and continuity patients expect and deserve," he said.

Since 2004, junior doctors have been restricted to working a maximum of 58 hours per week, which is set to be reduced to 48 hours per week by 2009. Before the new rules were introduced, most trainee surgeons would rest at the hospital while they were on call, but now most work continuous shifts of 13 hours followed by an 11 hour rest period.

Ribeiro believes the Working Time Directive inherently lacks flexibility, thus limiting the trainees' experience and reducing the amount of time they spend with tutors and patients.

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