Doctor A&E hours 'fall below credible minimum'

DOCTORS working in the Accident and Emergency Department at the PEH now work an 'average weekly commitment' of five hours, Health and Social Services has said.

But this still falls below a College of Emergency Medicine recommendation that a 'credible' minimum would be not less than one eight-hour shift per week.

The college report, commissioned two years ago, questioned the experience of some GPs who were working in the department.

It revealed that the service model of staffing meant some doctors worked, on average, less than four hours a week in the department.

However, HSSD claimed progress had been made.