Junior Doctors

HC Deb 29 October 1993 vol 230 cc834-5W

Mrs. Mahon

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of junior doctors are currently working more than their contracted hours.

Dr. Mawhinney

This information is not available centrally.

Mrs. Mahon

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made as to the implications for the health service of the EC 48-hour working week directive with particular reference to junior doctors; and if she will make a statement.

Dr. Mawhinney

The directive on working time has not yet been adopted finally by the European Community Council. However, at the start of negotiations, an assessment was made of the impact of the proposals on the working arrangements of junior doctors within the health service in the light of existing initiatives. On the basis of this assessment we obtained an exclusion from the draft directive for doctors in training.