§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will publish in the Official Report his reply to the 14 specific allegations of medical students doing the work of hospital doctors submitted to him in a document from the British Medical Association's junior doctors' negotiator, Dr. Aubrey Bristow;
(2) whether he will order an investigation into the extent to which medical students are doing the work of qualified doctors in National Health Service hospitals.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeUnder long-standing arrangements agreed with the medical profession and the universities, final year medical students under close supervision may assist in hospitals when a house officer is on leave. I have received a very brief report from the representatives of junior doctors outlining nine cases of alleged abuse of those arrangements. The allegations are vague and provide insufficient information on which to base a worthwhile investigation. I have asked the BMA to provide more specific details so that the allegations can be investigated.