Patient safety is being jeopardised the freedom of movement enshrined in EU law suggest leading doctors.

In a letter to The Daily Telegraph, the heads of two royal colleges strongly advise that difficulties include difficulties in assessing quality of qualifications, training and language barriers which impact the NHS and the concern is compounded also by the fact that that there is no Europe wide scheme for a doctor found to have been negligent or even struck off to be recorded.

Other concerns about EU legislation are that because of the Working Time Directive trainee doctors are working reduced hours and whilst there are arguments on both sides on this issue, British doctors gain a lot of experience quickly by working a very high number of hours when they first start working.

The following facts were also cited in support of the concerns raised :-

• the cost of locum support is claimed to have increased by over £700 million
• 80% of surgeons view European law as having the result of a deterioration in  patient care
• Nearly 90,000 doctors are now working in the UK who were not trained in the UK, with over 20,000 of these being EU origin doctors.

New EU laws on insurance are due to come into effect this year, which will primarily impact on the variances between insurance premiums chargeable for men and women. The changes will make such differentials unlawful, but an analysis suggests that there will be winners and losers based on the changes. The predicated changes are likely to be :-

• An increase in motor insurance premiums for women . The Government estimates women drivers aged up to 45 will pay over £900million more annually. Women under 25 may have to pay an extra 25% while men in the same age group may save an average 10%.
• Women will likely benefit when it comes to annuity payouts – estimates suggest that on average they will benefit by over £300.00 a year