§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals the Whitley council is considering in relation to improvements in the pay and conditions of operating department assistants; what consideration the Bevan committee is giving to recommendations concerning operating department assistants; and what grade operating department assistants are currently employed on.
§ Mr. Mellor[holding answer 16 March 1989]: A Department of Health study on staffing and utilisation of operating theatres is being overseen by a steering group chaired by Professor Peter Gilroy Bevan. A final report is due shortly. It is expected that the report will contain some recommendations on the grading and deployment of operating department assistants.
Operating department assistants are employed in 3 grades, trainee, basic and senior. Their pay and grade structures are being examined by a working group of the management side of the professional and technical staff B Whitley council.