Interesting to read that the UK’s top surgeon has claimed that patients lives will be put at risk and hospitals forced to close because of new European rules that will limit the hours doctors can work.

John Black, president of the Royal College of Surgeons, said the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) would be catastrophic for the NHS. The EWTD, which fully comes into force on August 1, limits the number of hours doctors and surgeons can work each week to 48 but doctors and especially junior doctors often work longer hours than this.

Mr Black said reducing the hours of doctors and surgeons could lead to an increase in waiting lists and hospitals shutting.

“Unless the Government comes to its senses the result will be catastrophic for the NHS with patient safety on a knife edge, surgeons not being properly trained, waiting lists going up again and even hospitals closing.

“We have already reached the point where patients’ health has been endangered. There is a serious risk of units in hospitals having to close to emergencies, with resulting chaos, not to mention the danger and inconvenience brought about by patients going long distances to a hospital that has enough staff to stay open.

“This is truly a nightmare, and I despair that the Government will not take action.”

It’s not that the Government can’t take action, it’s that the Government hwon’t take action because it has sold out to the EU and that the fundamental issue here is not the Working Time Directive but rather are continued captivity in the EU.