Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Recruitment & retention
    • Wellbeing
    • Occupational Health
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Recruitment & retention
    • Wellbeing
    • Occupational Health
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise

Employment lawWorking Time Regulations

Top surgeon calls for working time opt-out

by Ross Wigham 2 Mar 2006
by Ross Wigham 2 Mar 2006

The country’s leading surgeon has called for a new UK opt-out for doctors after warning that the European Working Time Directive (WTD) is having a damaging impact on patient care.

Bernard Ribeiro, president of the Royal College of Surgeons, has formally written to Tony Blair asking for an exemption from the 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.

Junior doctors have been restricted to a maximum of 58 hours a week since 2004 and this is set to be reduced further – potentially to 48 hours by 2009. Before the introduction of the new rules, most trainee surgeons would rest at the hospital while they were on call, but most now work continuous shifts of 13 hours followed by 11 hours of continuous rest.

Ribeiro believes this lack of flexibility limits the trainees’ experience and reduces the amount of time spent with tutors.

The Freight Transport Association has claimed that any removal of special working time rules for UK transport firms would prove disastrous. The Road Transport Directive currently limits drivers to 48 hours a week, but crucially the regulations do not include time spent available for work as part of this overall limit.

www.rcseng.ac.uk

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

www.fta.co.uk

 


Ross Wigham

previous post
Land Rover offers £10,000 to lure staff to Liverpool plant
next post
John Lewis Partnership to roll out new HR and payroll system

You may also like

‘Terrible’ Employment Rights Bill returns to Commons

4 Sep 2025

New ‘failure to prevent fraud’ law a ‘game-changer’

2 Sep 2025

Top 10 HR questions August 2025: Conduct outside...

2 Sep 2025

Business confidence grows to post-Budget peak

1 Sep 2025

P&O Ferries boss who steered 800 sackings steps...

29 Aug 2025

Council clerk sacked after trying to ensure his...

29 Aug 2025

Day one rights in the Employment Rights Bill...

28 Aug 2025

EHRC acts on policies flouting law on single-sex...

28 Aug 2025

Acas to explore use of AI as half...

27 Aug 2025

Royal Mail eCourier drivers bring legal claim over...

26 Aug 2025

  • Work smart – stay well: Avoid unnecessary pain with centred ergonomics SPONSORED | If you often notice...Read more
  • Elevate your L&D strategy at the World of Learning 2025 SPONSORED | This October...Read more
  • How to employ a global workforce from the UK (webinar) WEBINAR | With an unpredictable...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits Live
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Recruitment & retention
    • Wellbeing
    • Occupational Health
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise