HC Deb 14 December 1959 vol 615 cc1041-2
26. Mr. Pavitt

asked the Minister of Health how many time-expired senior registrars are at present employed in the National Health Service.

Mr. Walker-Smith

119 at 1st July, 1959.

Mr. Pavitt

Is the Minister aware that these time-expired registrars have a very high degree of responsibility and undertake major operations, yet after all these years in service they have no knowledge of the future of their job? They do not know whether they are going to be shifted at the end of their existing year and, as a result, are left in a state of considerable uncertainty. Will he consider taking action to resolve their difficulties?

Mr. Walker-Smith

We have taken action. Jointly with the Joint Consultants Committee, we set up a working party to study the principle of staff structure in the hospital service with particular reference to this problem. Meanwhile, regional hospital boards and boards of governors have been asked to extend the contracts of senior registrars who have completed the normal tenure of their posts.

Mr. K. Robinson

Can the right hon. and learned Gentleman say how the figure of 119 compares with that of the previous twelve months; also, what effect the once-for-all arrangements has had on the limited number of permanent

MANCHESTER REGIONAL HOSPITAL AREA
THORACIC SURGERY: WAITING TIMES
— Malignant Tuberculosis Other
Park Hospital … … 0–6 weeks Not admitted 0–3 years
Baguley Hospital … … 7–20 days 47–75 days 7–20 days
Victoria Hospital … … 1–3 months Not admitted 6–18 months
Wrightington Hospital … … Nil Nil 3–6 months
In addition, some thoracic surgery cases are admitted to Manchester Royal Infirmary. No malignant cases are waiting for operation at this hospital and the longest waiting time for any of the non-malignant cases (14 in number) awaiting operation is 6 months.

appointments which he announced about a year ago?

Mr. Walker-Smith

In reply to the first part of that question, the number is five fewer than it was previously; in reply to the second part, we have had twenty-three proposals, of which nineteen have been approved.