§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the cost to health authorities of employing extra locum doctors to allow junior hospital doctors to be on call for not more than 80 hours per week; whether doctors providing deputising services for family medical practitioners are eligible for such work; and if he will arrange for priority for such additional employment to be given to unemployed doctors.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergIt is not possible to provide any sensible estimate. Reductions in juniors' hours may be achieved in several ways without employing additional staff. Some may result in savings. An important element in the current review of rota commitments by authorities is that any changes must be achieved within their overall planned spending on medical staffing. Authorities are not expected to employ locums to cover regular rota commitments.