Health Services

Ms Abbott
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to maintain patient care when all junior doctors move posts on 1 August.

Ms Rosie Winterton
To ensure service is maintained at the beginning of August and patient care is not compromised, strategic health authorities are working with trusts and NHS Employers are working with the Department to plan now for managing the transition in the period after 1 August. These plans include advertising locum posts on NHS Jobs to fill training posts and using extensions to contracts or service posts.

Not all doctors in training will change jobs on the same date at the beginning of August. Arrangements for 2007 will reflect current practice as most doctors at the level equivalent to the senior house officer grade will start in the first week of August, while doctors at the equivalent of the specialist registrar grade will have staggered start dates.

Mr. Lansley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library a copy of the discussion paper on providers which she presented to the King's Fund on 7 December 2006.

Mr. Ivan Lewis
A copy has been placed in the Library.