§ Mr. Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the cost to each NHS trust of the Working Time Directive. [141403]
§ Mr. Hutton:The Working Time Directive (WTD) is an integral part of modernising and improving services. The national health service has been aware of the implications of implementing the WTD for doctors in training since 2000, and planning for it forms part of overall NHS planning. Strategic health authorities are currently ensuring that plans will achieve compliance by 2004.
§ Mr. Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the change in the number of (a) doctors and (b) nurses needed in each NHS trust as a result of the implementation of the Working Time Directive. [141405]
§ Mr. Hutton:The Department's guidance to the national health service, HSC 2003/001 'Protecting Staff, Delivering Services—Implementing the European Working Time Directive for Doctors in Training', states that while the number of doctors on an individual rota will generally have to increase, trusts should find ways to reduce the number of resident rotas. A number of methods of doing so are being explored in the 20 Working Time Directive (WTD) pilots and several "Hospital at Night" pilots. Thus, the total staffing requirement does not increase substantially as a result of the WTD.
The NHS is currently developing action plans to achieve compliance with the WTD. As part of this, additional training opportunities will be made available for trusts where the need for a post is agreed by their strategic health authority. This agreement is subject to funding and educational approval being obtained.
It is for local organisations to determine the level of staff needed to implement the WTD and to deliver a quality service. However, the Department is supporting a programme of work to develop new ways of working for nurses and other professional staff.
791W
§ Mrs. Gillan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment has been made of the cost to NHS trusts in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire of the Working Time Directive; [142523]
(2) what assessment has been made of the overtime needed in NHS trusts in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire arising from the implementation of the Working Time Directive. [142524]
§ Ms Rosie Winterton:The Working Time Directive is an integral part of modernising and improving services. The national health service has been aware of the implications of implementing the Working Time Directive for doctors in training since 2000, and planning for it forms part of overall NHS planning.
Strategic health authorities are currently ensuring that plans will achieve compliance by 2004.
§ Mrs. Gillan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the change in the number of (a) doctors and (b) nurses needed in (i)Chesham and Amersham and (ii) Buckinghamshire as a result of the implementation of the Working Time Directive. [142525]
792W
§ Ms Rosie Winterton:The Department's guidance to the national health service—Health Service Circular 2003/001 'Protecting Staff, Delivering Services—Implementing the European Working Time Directive for Doctors in Training' states that while the number of doctors on an individual rota will generally have to increase, trusts should find ways to reduce the number of resident rotas. A number of methods of doing so are being explored in the 20 Working Time Directive (WTD) pilots and several hospital at night pilots. Thus the total staffing requirement does not increase substantially as a result of the WTD.
Strategic health authorities are ensuring that trust plans will deliver compliance. Priority will be given to trusts facing WTD challenges in the allocation of an additional 1,500 locally funded specialist registrars training opportunities, subject to educational approval being obtained.
It is for local organisations to determine the level of staff needed to implement the WTD and to deliver a quality service. However, the Department is supporting a programme of work to develop new ways of working for nurses and other professional staff.