HC Deb 24 May 1994 vol 244 c120W
21. Mr. Ottaway

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been achieved in reducing the hours worked by junior doctors in the south Thames region.

Dr. Mawhinney

Between September 1990 and March 1994 the number of posts contracted for more than an average of 83 hours a week in south Thames fell from 1,963 to nine. In the year to 31 March 1994, the number of hard-pressed on-call posts contracted on average for more than 72 hours a week fell from 1,404 to 879. Our priority this year is to eliminate these remaining hard-pressed posts.

25. Mr. Bellingham

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been achieved in reducing the hours worked by junior doctors in the Anglia and Oxford region.

Dr. Mawhinney

In September 1990 there were 1,225 posts contracted to work for more than 83 hours a week in Anglia and Oxford. All these posts have now been eliminated. In the year to 31 March 1994, the number of hard-pressed on-call posts contracted on average for more than 72 hours a week fell from 1,051 to 518, a reduction of 51 per cent. Our priority this year is to eliminate these remaining hard-pressed posts.