Mr. Tom Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if clinical assistantships provided under the National Health Service financial arrangements cover all branches of medicine in general and specialised hospitals; and if there is a differentiation in the provision of assistantships between one speciality and another.
§ Dr. OwenClinical assistantships are appointments made under paragraph 94 of the terms and conditions of service of hospital medical and dental staff. These appointments are not restricted to any branch of medicine or type of hospital. it is for National Health Service employing authorities to decide whether to offer a clinical assistantship in any particular specialty. In practice, the scope for such appointments will obviously vary from one specialty to another, but appointments have been made in virtually all specialties.