§ Mr. McCrindleTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he has any plans to introduce regulations to limit the number of hours worked by a junior hospital doctor in a working week; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what is the latest figure for the average number of hours worked by junior hospital doctors in a working week; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorNo. We have no plans to introduce regulations. Junior hospital doctors' average hours of work in a working week have been reduced from 58.3 in 1981 to 57 in 1985. Hours of duty, as distinct front hours actually worked, fell from an average of 91.3 a week in 1976 to 85.7 in 1986. In June 1988, and with the agreement of the profession, the Government announced a new scheme to reduce further the hours of work. Local professional working parties are being set up in every district to advise on the elimination, wherever possible, of regular rota commitments which require a junior to be on duty, on average, more than one night and weekend in three.