§ Mr. Cousinsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services in the area of the Northern regional health authority, what was the average basic rate of pay for junior hospital doctor grades in the years 1984–85, 1985–86 and 1986–87; what was the average income from overtime pay in each of those years; and what were the average numbers of overtime hours worked expressed as an annual and an average figure for each working week.
§ Mr. NewtonThe hon. Member may wish to approach the Northern regional health authority for this information, which is not available centrally in the form requested. The basic rate of salary for junior hospital doctors is related to the first 40 hours of duty. They may receive payments additional to basic salary for each unit of medical time (UMT), being four hours of duty, which they are contractually required to perform in excess of 40 hours. The relevant rates are shown in the table. Practitioners may also receive additional earnings from duty performed outside their normal contracted hours for their own or another employing authority.
§ Mr. NewtonI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Members for Strathkelvin and Bearsden (Mr. Galbraith) and for Southport (Mr. Fearn) on 3 November.
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§ Ms. Harmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what specific steps he proposes to take to increase the number of hospital doctors.
§ Mr. NewtonIt is for health authorities to determine the number of hospital doctors they require to meet their service objectives, within broad national priorities, but taking account of local needs and circumstances. The Department's role is to ensure an adequate supply of doctors at all stages in the career progression to meet those needs. Decisions on the overall supply of doctors will be taken in the light of advice from an advisory committee on medical manpower planning, but a preliminary assessment is that the current supply is sufficient to sustain a steady growth in the number of hospital doctors. Decisions on the number of training programmes in individual specialties are taken in the light of advice from a joint planning advisory committee, and where necessary additional posts are set up. Finally, to help to ensure that hospital medicine continues to be an attractive career option for young doctors, health departments have held discussions with the medical profession and with regional chairmen culminating in the publication of "Achieving a Balance—Plan for Action", which I announced on 27 October in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, North (Mr. Burt) at column258. Among its provisions are a number of measures designed to increase the number of consultants, the introduction of a new intermediate-level staff grade, and a mechanism to relate the number of doctors in training to expected consultant opportunities.