NHS doctors are ready for a 48-hour maximum working week, in spite of the swine flu pandemic, according to NHS Employers.

From 1 August the European Working Time Directive means junior doctors will not be able to work more than 48 hours per week, as opposed to 56 as in the current system. But they will have the choice to opt out of this requirement if they wish to work additional hours to cover for colleagues.

David Grantham, head of programmes at NHS Employers, said: "NHS organisations have told us consistently they are ready for the implementation of the Working Time Directive. A total of 200 rotas out of 6,500 nationally have derogated in order to retain longer hours where it was not possible and more time was needed to prepare."

Grantham said doctors should be "protected by reasonable controls" on working hours but he added: "We expect if [staff] are called upon to [opt out of the regulations] in response to the flu pandemic, or any other local difficulty, as professionals they will be willing to do so if they can."