100 DAYS LEFT FOR SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT TO GET A GRIP OF JUNIOR DOCTOR WORKING HOURS - FINNIE

Written by Ross Finnie on Tue 21st Apr 2009

100 DAYS LEFT FOR SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT TO GET A GRIP OF JUNIOR DOCTOR WORKING HOURS - FINNIE

Ross Finnie MSP, Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson, has warned that with 100 days to go until the implementation of the working time directive, Scottish hospitals are facing a huge shortfall of junior doctors.

Mr Finnie is today meeting with BMA Scotland and junior doctors who share his concerns that the introduction of a mandatory 48 hour week is behind schedule and threatening to harm patient care.

Commenting ahead of the meeting, Mr Finnie said:

"Liberal Democrats revealed last month that the NHS in Scotland faces a shortfall of 330 junior doctors. This has been raised with the Health Secretary and with the First Minister but as yet there has been no change to their laissez-faire attitude.

"It is not only the Scottish Government's job to intervene if health boards are struggling to cope, it is their duty.

"The SNP Government has had two years to get a grip of this issue. With little over two thousand hours left it is now the Government that must get a grip and start taking responsibility before patient care is threatened."

Ends