Hospital wards may be run without doctors during the evenings and at night under government plans to comply with new European working regulations.

The European Working Time Directive means that from next year, trainee doctors will only be allowed to work an average of 58 hours a week rather than the 80 hours they often put in.

As a result, ministers are testing schemes where doctors are replaced by a new grade of senior nurses, who provide clinical support during weekends, evenings and nights.