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<p>The new contract includes stronger limits on working hours and patterns of work
and a robust oversight mechanism to ensure that prompt action is taken if needed.
This will be an integral part of how trusts meet their statutory obligations to keep
staff and patients safe. Required action includes a review of work schedules to ensure
safe working, payment for additional work done and fines where the limits in the contract
are breached. There are no such protections under the current contract. For instance,
at present, junior doctors can be asked to work up to 91 hours a week, up to seven
night shifts in a row and every weekend under the current contract. The Guardian of
Safe Working Hours will be tasked with ensuring that rotas reflect the hours that
juniors work and they are within the new contractual limits.</p><p> </p><p>These limits
under the new contract are a maximum of 72 hours per week (compared to 91 currently),
and the limit on average weekly hours will remain 48 hours (and be limited to 56 hours
where a doctor opts out of the Working Time Regulations).</p>
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