Emergency doctors exceed their planned hours by 20% or more, survey finds
More than nine out of 10 emergency medicine consultants in the United Kingdom work more than their normal planned hours, a survey by the College of Emergency Medicine has found.

The results are contained in a report, “Stretched to the limit,” which says that there is an urgent need to ensure that safe and sustainable working practices are created in emergency departments.1 It adds that the present situation is unacceptable and makes it more difficult to recruit and retain doctors in emergency medicine.

The college carried out a web based survey of its fellows who are currently consultants, locum consultants, and associate specialists in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. A total of 1077 doctors completed the survey, a response rate of …