Bernard Allen
Question:180 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on recent press reports stating that much of the evidence, of excessive non-consultant hospital doctors' hours is anecdotal. [25606/99]
Written Answers. - Hospital Doctors.
Existing payment arrangements do not facilitate the collection of accurate data on the hours worked by non-consultant hospital doctors. NCHDs claim that many of the hours which they work are not recorded or paid for. For this reason, and to facilitate the introduction of a 48 hour week for NCHDs, a major study is to be undertaken in early 2000 to establish the facts.