Lamb quizzes Burnham on the Working Time Directive

10.24.36am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 27th Jun 2009

• [Jun 23] Norman Lamb (North Norfolk, Liberal Democrat): ' . . ONE of the key findings of the Healthcare Commission in regard to Staffordshire hospital was the concern about low staff surgical rotas. The president of the Royal College of Surgeons has warned of the potentially "catastrophic" impact on hospitals of the new rules, saying that patients could be put at risk and that some could die.

If I am not allowed to welcome you to your Chair, Mr. Speaker, may I at least welcome the Secretary of State back to the Department of Health, and the two Ministers to their posts?

The Secretary of State will be aware that one of the key findings of the Healthcare Commission in regard to Staffordshire hospital was the concern about low staff surgical rotas. The president of the Royal College of Surgeons has warned of the potentially "catastrophic" impact on hospitals of the new rules, saying that patients could be put at risk and that some could die. He also said that training could suffer, and that there was a risk of hospitals closing for emergencies. Given that we are now six weeks away from the implementation of the rules, will the Secretary of State agree to initiate a full risk assessment of their impact on patients, and to act in accordance with its findings?

Andy Burnham (Secretary of State, Department of Health; Leigh, Labour): I hope that when the hon. Gentleman sees the statutory instrument he will be reassured that it will provide the necessary flexibility in the specialties that it lists to ensure that the requirements can be safely introduced. I would also point him towards the evidence that early adopters of the directive, such as Homerton hospital, have shown a reduction in adverse incidents on the wards. Also, research by Warwick university medical school on trainees working in Coventry and Warwickshire university hospitals compared the number of errors made by junior doctors working no more than 48 hours with the number made by those working no more than 56 hours a week. It showed that fewer clinical errors were made by those working fewer hours. There is therefore good evidence to show that this move will improve patient safety in the national health service, although we of course take seriously the concerns that the hon. Gentleman has raised, and we will proceed cautiously at all times.

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