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NHS: Working Hours

Volume 476: debated on Wednesday 21 May 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) pursuant to the Answer of 22nd March 2007, Official Report, columns 1141-2W, on NHS: working hours, what monitoring of NHS readiness his Department has undertaken; and if he will place in the Library the results of such monitoring; (205857)

(2) what percentage of junior doctors worked a (a) 48 hour week, (b) 48 to 52 hour week, (c) 52 to 58 hour week and (d) 58 to 62 hour week in the latest period for which figures are available.

European working time directive (EWTD) monitoring information is not collected centrally. It is the responsibility of local employers to implement EWTD as part of their health and safety obligations.

Under the new deal contract for doctors in training, working hours monitoring information is collected by NHS Employers. The latest figures can be accessed on their website via www.nhsemployers.org/pay-conditions/pay-conditions-467.cfm. The new deal monitoring information provides a proxy to help the national health service with EWTD planning.