HC Deb 17 November 2003 vol 413 cc618-9W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of the Working Time Directive on the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [136134]

Mr. Hutton

The Working Time Directive (WTD) came into force for all staff in the national health service, with the exception of junior doctors in training, in 1998 and has already been effectively implemented. From August 2004, doctors in training will be subject to a limit of 58 hours a week under the WTD. A substantial programme of work is currently under way to support implementation within the NHS in the context of providing safe and effective services. Trusts have been asked to provide action plans for compliance with the Directive in respect of doctors in training by 31 December, to be agreed with their strategic health authorities.

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of the implementation of the European Working Time Directive on(a) hospital waiting times and (b) junior doctor training. [137069]

Mr. Hutton

Strategic health authorities (SHAs) are assessing the readiness of trusts to comply with the Working Time Directive (WTD) for doctors in training and continuing to deliver service priorities, including waiting times. Trusts have been asked to provide action plans for compliance with the WTD in respect of doctors in training by 31 December, to be agreed with their SHAs. A substantial programme of work is underway to support implementation and WTD pilots are beginning to demonstrate that the right mix of solutions can be found locally to deliver improved services for patients, fairer working hours and extended opportunities across the work force.

The pilots are also implementing medical training posts, which are designed to offer doctors suitable programmes of training and achieve WTD compliance. Also, the modernising medical careers programme has been informed by the requirements of the WTD. These initiatives, together with discussions taking place with the Medical Royal Colleges, are designed to ensure that doctors continue to receive the high quality training that they and their patients deserve.

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had on the implementation of the European Working Time Directive in the health sector in other EU countries. [137070]

Mr. Hutton

Ministers and officials at the Department held discussions with counterparts in other member states throughout the previous negotiation and subsequent implementation of the European Working Time Directive (WTD).

Further to the recent announcement of a Commission Review of the WTD, which they were required to undertake, we continue to actively engage with fellow member states to ensure that the interests of health workers and the national health service are protected. We expect the Commission to publish their proposals in late November and we continue to work to try and influence the content of this communication.