§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has for the recruitment to the national health service of more junior doctors.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe new deal will further reduce hours worked by junior doctors. To help achieve these reductions, regional task forces have been given the freedom to increase senior house officer numbers where necessary, in consultation with postgraduate deans, to ensure that educational standards are maintained.
The number of junior doctors will change as a result of the Government's acceptance of the recommendations of "Hospital Doctors: Training for the Future". This will introduce planned and structured training and increase the ratio of senior medical staff to junior doctors. Over the next few years, this should reduce the numbers in higher specialist training but increase the number of consultants and the proportion of care delivered by them.
Copies of both documents are available in the Library.