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Doctors' hours could change as European Working Time Directive reviewed
The controversial European law which NHS chiefs claim affects patient care by preventing doctors from working longer hours is to be reviewed.
Doctors: working
The Working Time Directive decrees that no-one must work a week longer than 48 hours without a special opt-out.
But the NHS and other health providers across Europe have been among the worst affected by the rule, which drastically cut the amount of hours doctors could spend on the wards.
Critics said junior doctors, who used to work very long hours, were being stopped from learning or building up experience as quickly as in the past.
The latest consultation document from the European Commission recognises that the laws limiting working hours need to be changed.
It proposes either a “focused review” or a comprehensive overhaul of EU law, and states the EC “will not pursue the option of maintaining the status quo”.............................. ....
Read the article in full at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8218410/Doctors-hours-could-change-as-European-Working-Time-Directive-reviewed.html
By Andy Bloxham