Lothian meets new time rules

Published on Tuesday 20 October 2009 09:39

HEALTH bosses in Lothian say they have met strict new working time regulations in the first month of operation.

There had been concerns that the new European Working Time Directive – which dictates junior doctors cannot work more than 48 hours in a week – would be tough to stick to.

Given the reliance on junior medics to fill difficult shift slots, as well as the tradition of them working huge numbers of hours during a week, critics said even if the targets were met during August, it would come at the expense of patient care.