§ Mr. Anthony CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will announce the outcome of recent studies on junior doctors' hours of work.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyIn 1985 the Department commissioned Dr. Robin Dowie of the British Postgraduate Medical Federation to undertake research into patterns of hospital medical staffing. She has completed an interim report on junior doctors' hours of work, which is published today. A copy will be placed in the Library.
485WThe report covers the period before we launched two initiatives on junior doctors' hours of work. It cannot, therefore, be expected to reflect progress made during the last couple of years or so.
In our first initiative, launched in June 1988, we asked health authorities to take further action to reduce the onerous rotas worked by some junior doctors. Good progress has been made on this.
Reports from regions show that about 27 per cent. of all junior doctors were on rotas worse than one in three in 1988. By September 1990, around one in eight junior doctors will undertake duties which are onerous.
In the second initiative, which began in July 1989, we announced the establishment of nine pilot studies across six regional health authorities aimed at reducing average hours of duty to our long-term aim of 72 per week.
Another important feature of our drive to reduce the working hours of junior doctors is the appointment of 100 extra hospital consultants, as announced in the White Paper "Working for Patients". I announced details of the allocation of the first 35 of these posts in October last year, and hope to be in a position to announce the allocation of the remaining 65 by the end of this month.
I will be meeting representatives of the British Medical Association on Wednesday this week to discuss what further action is now appropriate. We are determined to see further progress in reducing the onerous rotas worked by some junior doctors.
With the rapid pace of scientific and medical advances it is even more important than ever for junior doctors not to be tired when carrying out their duties. Progress depends largely on the commitment and co-operation of the medical profession. This week's talks with the British Medical Association will be a good beginning.