§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the number of junior doctors in the national health service; what is the comparable figure for 1985; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. MawhinneyAt 30 September 1990, the latest date for which figures are available centrally, there were 23,377 whole-time equivalent junior doctors in the national health service compared to 21,368 whole-time equivalent junior doctors at 30 September 1985. These figures are rounded to the nearest whole number and include all permanent paid and honorary medical staff.
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average number of hours per week worked by junior doctors in the national health service; what is the maximum amount allowed by law; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. MawhinneyAt 30 September 1990, the latest date for which information is available, junior hospital doctors in England and Wales were contracted to be on duty for an average of 79 hours per week. Information on the number of hours spent actually working is not routinely collected centrally.
There are currently no legal limits on the working hours of junior doctors. However, the new deal for junior doctors launched in June 1991 made clear our intention 148W that, regardless of the contracted hours of duty for individual posts, from 31 December 1994 doctors in training employed on a full-time basis should not normally be expected to work for more than an average of 56 hours per week.