§ Mr. NormanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health under what circumstances after August 2004 junior doctors will be subject to the limit on night workers of eight hours of work in any 24 hour period under the Working Time Directive. [83452]
§ Mr. HuttonIn order to implement the Working Time Directive (93/104EC) the Government propose to introduce legislation to extend the Working Time Regulations, including the provisions that apply to "night workers", to the activities of doctors in training from 1 August 2004, with the exception of the average weekly working time limit which will be introduced over a transitional period.
A worker covered by the Regulations will be subject to the controls on night working if they satisfy the meaning of "night worker' in the Regulations.
Under the Government's proposals, which are currently the subject of public consultation by the Department of Trade and Industry, the night work limits are excluded where there is a need for continuity of service as may be the case in hospitals, including the activities of doctors in training, but this is subject to the compensatory rest provisions.
§ David WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many junior doctors are in training; and how this compares with the number in 1997. [89243]
§ Mr. HuttonThe data requested is shown in the table.
The figures show an increase in the number of doctors in training between 1997 and 2001 of 9 per cent.
NHS Doctors in training, England (Headcount) 1997 2001 Doctors in training of which 32,800 35,790 HCHS1 31,460 33,910 GP Registrars 1,340 1,880 1Hospital, Public Health medicine and Community Health Services medical and dental staff Note:
Figures are for 30 September in the year stated except for GP registrars in 1997, which is for 1 October.
Source:
Department of Health medical and dental workforce census
Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics