§ 37. Mr. DunnachieTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in negotiations on proposals for a reduction in the hours worked by junior doctors.
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§ 81. Mr. DoranTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in negotiations on proposals for a reduction in the hours worked by junior doctors.
§ 90. Mr. Terry FieldsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in negotiations on proposals for a reduction in the hours worked by junior doctors.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe Government are very concerned to reduce the hours worked by some junior hospital doctors. For this reason I held a meeting earlier this year with representatives of the medical profession at consultant and junior level, the royal colleges, and NHS management to discuss the way forward. A working group was set up at that meeting to take forward a detailed examination of the issues.
After a second meeting on 20 September, I am delighted to report that excellent progress is being made. The working group has covered a considerable amount of ground in examining both the precise nature of the problem and what can be done further to reduce the long hours still being worked by some junior hospital doctors. As work loads and staffing patterns vary so much between different hospitals, specialties and grades of doctor, the intention is to produce a package of practical measures from which those concerned locally can choose the solutions best suited to their particular circumstances. All parties are aiming to reach broad agreement in principle on specific changes by the end of the year. This will then be followed by a detailed plan for implementation.
All those concerned should face up to the true nature of the problem so that further progress can follow.