Roger Godsiff – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2016-02-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the capacity within the illustrative rota for junior doctors, published by NHS Employers on 18 February 2016, to (a) take sick leave, (b) take study leave, (c) take annual leave, (d) work-part time and (e) gain required out-of-hours experience.

Ben Gummer

The rotas used in the calculator are actual examples of rotas being used in the National Health Service, appropriately adjusted to reflect the rules agreed in negotiations with the British Medical Association and included in the new contract. These rotas are illustrative. The work schedule process that underpins the new contract will allow for study leave and annual leave. Sick leave is generally covered by engaging a locum. Where doctors are training on a part time basis, work schedules are adjusted to reflect that. Any curriculum requirements to work out of hours would be addressed as part of the work scheduling process for the training programme concerned.