A substantial number of hospitals will be unable to comply with the European Working Time Directive in acute medicine when it becomes law in August this year, says a survey published this week by the Royal College of Physicians.

The survey of senior physicians at acute hospitals in England and Wales found that 23% will probably or definitely not be able to comply with the forthcoming directive, which rules that junior doctors must not work more than 56 hours a week. In addition, doctors are not to work more than 13 hours in any 24 hour period and are to take an 11 hour break before and after such a shift. Compliance would require virtually all junior doctors, including …