HC Deb 02 December 2002 vol 395 cc611-2W
Mr. Norman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of doctors working in shifts on the level of perioperative deaths in NHS hospitals. [83451]

Mr. Hutton

Each year the National Confidential Enquiry into Perioperative Deaths reports on deaths that occurred in the most recent 12 months for which figures are available. There has been no separate assessment of the impact of shift working on the level of perioperative deaths in the national health service. We are however, moving to a position where out of hours cover is provided by more experienced doctors, and this will be supported by our commitment in the NHS Plan to increase the number of consultants and doctors.

Back to
Forward to