24 May 2010
AN accident and emergency unit has been forced to close at night due to a shortage of junior doctors.
The ward at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife, shut from 8pm to 8am from May 17 to May 24. Emergency cases were diverted 13 miles away to the Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline.
The closure is being blamed on a staffing shortage prompted by the European Working Time Directive, introduced last August. NHS Fife said it was possible the measures would be extended over further weekends.
A spokeswoman for the health board said restrictions brought in by the EWTD led to an “unexpected junior doctor absence and the unavailability of locum cover". She added: “Our primary concern is to ensure clinical services are being provided with safe levels of medical staffing."
The Victoria is the latest in a series of hospitals across the UK to report difficulties in junior doctor staffing levels.
01.02.12
GMC announces PLAB review
30.01.12
BDA expresses concern over online patient feedback
27.01.12
GDC issues guidance on ethical advertising
26.01.12
"Gagging clauses" unacceptable says GMC
20.01.12
GMC website to support doctors referred on health grounds