§ Mr. SimmondsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Working Time Directive and its effect on(a) doctors' hours and (b) the availability of doctors within the NHS. [167877]
§ Mr. HuttonThe working time directive (WTD) is a legal requirement on which implementation is being taken forward locally. From 1 August, doctors in training will be required to work no more than 58 hours per week on average.
Lessons from WTD pilot sites have demonstrated that compliance is best achieved through working differently using multi-disciplinary teams in line with the wider NHS modernisation agenda, rather than simply employing more doctors.