An attack on the NHS

After August 1st, the NHS will come under strain, and with it lives could be lost. The current president of the Royal College of Surgeons claims that young surgeons could be inadequately trained in future, waiting lists rise and even hospitals close.

The cause is the European Working Time directive, which will limit a week's work to everyone in the UK to a maximum of 48 hours, - legislation devised to limit the number of hours lorry drivers can drive or workers operate heavy machinery.

At the very least some wards or hospitals may be forced to close. The Daily telegraph had originally concluded that this could cost the NHS the equivalent of 9,000 junior doctors.

The deadline has not been suddenly sprung upon us, and in fairness to the government they have made some progress in reducing hours. It still remains true that there were too many trained doctors for available funds in recent years, and many have emigrated. It is also true that many young doctors have been pressurised recently to lie about their hours, and pretend that they worked only 48.

As I have said before, you wouldn't employ this lot to organise a "you-know-what" in a brewery!