Doctors' Working Hours (Hansard, 16 March 1993)

§ Ms Primarolo
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average number of hours worked by(a) consultants and (b) junior hospital doctors in England in each of the past five years (i) by region and (ii) nationally.
183W

§ Dr. Mawhinney
Information on the average hours worked by consultants and junior hospital doctors is not available centrally. Information on regional averages could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The average weekly contracted hours for junior hospital doctors in England is available for the period 1988–91, as at 30 September each year, as follows: 1988:82 hours 1989:81 hours 1990:80 hours 1991: 80 hours (all figures rounded to the nearest whole hour).

§ Mr. Pickthall
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many junior hospital doctors worked fewer than 83 hours a week as at 1 March; and how many remain above that figure.

Category 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92

Children under 16 — — 1,541,180 1,560,390 1,842,550

Students under 19 — — 334,000 346,220 410,150

People on income support/family credit — — 1,129,970 1,380,240 1,650,570

Holders of exemption certificate AG2 — — 171,980 215,200 271,990

Registered blind/partially sighted — — 14,540 14,880 21,880

Those who need certain complex lenses — — 36,760 49,230 62,250

Diagnosed diabetes/glaucoma sufferers — — 255,430 324,920 384,380

Relatives aged 40 and over of diagnosed glaucoma sufferers — — 165,120 262,580 335,660

New scheme — — 3,649,000 4,153,660 4,979,420

Old scheme 11,694,800 12,392,830 1,630,750 — —

Total¹ 11,694,800 12,492,830 5,279,750 4,153,660 4,979,420

¹From April 1989, national health service sight tests were restricted to certain groups in the population. The sight tests paid for in 1989–90 include some conducted prior to 1 April 1989—old scheme—when national health service sight tests were universally available. The remainder paid for in 1989–90 do not represent a full year under the new system, because of the delay in payments. The figure for 1989–90 is not, therefore, directly comparable with that for 1990–91.

Category	1987–88	1988–89	1989–90	1990–91	1991–92
Children under 16	—	—	1,541,180	1,560,390	1,842,550
Students under 19	—	—	334,000	346,220	410,150
People on income support/family credit	—	—	1,129,970	1,380,240	1,650,570
Holders of exemption certificate AG2	—	—	171,980	215,200	271,990
Registered blind/partially sighted	—	—	14,540	14,880	21,880
Those who need certain complex lenses	—	—	36,760	49,230	62,250
Diagnosed diabetes/glaucoma sufferers	—	—	255,430	324,920	384,380
Relatives aged 40 and over of diagnosed glaucoma sufferers	—	—	165,120	262,580	335,660
New scheme	—	—	3,649,000	4,153,660	4,979,420
Old scheme	11,694,800	12,392,830	1,630,750	—	—
Total¹	11,694,800	12,492,830	5,279,750	4,153,660	4,979,420
¹From April 1989, national health service sight tests were restricted to certain groups in the population. The sight tests paid for in 1989–90 include some conducted prior to 1 April 1989—old scheme—when national health service sight tests were universally available. The remainder paid for in 1989–90 do not represent a full year under the new system, because of the delay in payments. The figure for 1989–90 is not, therefore, directly comparable with that for 1990–91.