§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what criteria are used to assess the suitability of appointed doctors; and how many doctors have had their status as appointed doctors withdrawn by EMAS;
(2) what proportion of doctors appointed by EMAS have qualifications in occupational health;
(3) how many appointed doctors are currently registered with EMAS; and how many days' training, on average, each received from EMAS staff.
§ Mr. ForthThere are currently 1,369 appointed doctors registered with EMAS. Approximately 40 per cent. of doctors currently appointed by EMAS hold formal qualifications in occupational health, and all are encouraged to take the Faculty of Occupational Medicine's 30 to 50 hours introductory course in occupational health.
Each doctor is provided with appropriate induction training prior to being appointed and all appointed doctors are normally given the opportunity to attend a one-day seminar run by EMAS on an annual basis in each HSE area/region. No records are maintained of the time spent training individual doctors.
The local senior employment medical adviser is required to ensure that any doctor seeking an appointment is suitable and competent and has the necessary facilities and equipment to carry out the required duties.
The Health and Safety Executive does not maintain historical data on the number of doctors who have had their status as appointed doctors withdrawn, but in recent years several hundred appointments have been no longer required as a result of legislative change.