EU limit on doctors’ hours will increase spending on locums and hit training
8 July 2014
An EU directive which limits the number of hours doctors are allowed to work will put more pressure on wards to hire temporary workers and increase spending on agency locums.
Tue, 8 Jul 2014An EU directive which limits the number of hours doctors are allowed to work will put more pressure on wards to hire temporary workers and increase spending on agency locums.
But, according to one of the country’s leading British neurosurgeons, the EU edict cuts into valuable time need to train young medics.
Speaking in the Daily Telegraph, Henry Marsh said adopting the European working time directive, which restricts junior doctors to working 48 hours a week, was a mistake.
He argued that young consultants should be allowed to work more hours in order to gain much-needed valuable experience.
“It is a worry. What it means is the new generation of young consultants are much less experienced. I’m quite sure young doctors are not working enough,” said Marsh.
HCL Doctors managing director, client solutions, Claire Billenness, tells Recruiter: “While clearly good news for the agency community, it is at odds with what the NHS and the Department of Health are trying to achieve – to reduce the ‘non-pay’ bill; costs are undoubtedly going to increase.
“Additionally, the UK is in the midst of crippling shortage of skilled clinicians – where are these additional workers going to come from?”
The BMA says junior doctors need working patterns that include training and do not risk patient safety.
But, according to one of the country’s leading British neurosurgeons, the EU edict cuts into valuable time need to train young medics.
Speaking in the Daily Telegraph, Henry Marsh said adopting the European working time directive, which restricts junior doctors to working 48 hours a week, was a mistake.
He argued that young consultants should be allowed to work more hours in order to gain much-needed valuable experience.
“It is a worry. What it means is the new generation of young consultants are much less experienced. I’m quite sure young doctors are not working enough,” said Marsh.
HCL Doctors managing director, client solutions, Claire Billenness, tells Recruiter: “While clearly good news for the agency community, it is at odds with what the NHS and the Department of Health are trying to achieve – to reduce the ‘non-pay’ bill; costs are undoubtedly going to increase.
“Additionally, the UK is in the midst of crippling shortage of skilled clinicians – where are these additional workers going to come from?”
The BMA says junior doctors need working patterns that include training and do not risk patient safety.
