LONDON, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- European Union rules limiting how many hours doctors can work each week cause avoidable patient deaths, about half of all British surgeons surveyed say.
Doctors previously worked 80-hour weeks, providing continuity of patient care by sleeping in the hospital and staying on call. They are now required to work no more than 48 hours per week.
John Black, president of the Royal College of Surgeons in London, said the 48-hour week means doctors are not monitoring patients for a long enough time to observe changes in their condition, the Sunday Times of London reported.
"Multiple handovers are inherently unsafe. Every handover is an accident waiting to happen," Black said.
A survey conducted by the college found more than 50 percent of consultant surgeons and 44 percent of other surgeons indicated the hand-off of patients from one doctor to another has resulted in avoidable deaths.
"No rapport is built with the patient and no responsibility is assumed by the junior (physician) for the patient care. An unmitigated disaster," said one of 900 surgeons who responded to the survey.
The college is lobbying the government for opt-out opportunities allowing surgeons to work up to 65 hours a week, the newspaper said.
"Hospitals which have been working a 48-hour week for over two years have produced evidence that shows the change has decreased hospital mortality. There is no evidence of harm being caused to patients." a Health Department official said.
Specifics of the survey were not reported.
