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Dept of Health

Answer

Dr. Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what protections are contained within NHS Professionals to ensure nurses do not exceed the 48 hour work week. [30766] Mr. Hutton: I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer him to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002, column 192W. Health service circular 2001-002 and the guidance NHS Professionals--"A co-ordinated, NHS-led approach to temporary staffing" sets out national standards for good employment practice in the management of temporary staffing. This includes using the best of modern information technology and call centre technology within agreed national frameworks for terms and conditions of service, delivering high quality patient care through clinical governance. NHS Professionals uses software that automatically flags up any shift in which an individual could exceed a 48-hour working week, and this is then raised with the individual. Details of any current existing working arrangements are discussed during recruitment and the individual has a responsibility to inform NHS Professionals of any changes to these working hours. Also, nurses working periods between rest periods are monitored to ensure that they are getting enough rest between shifts and that their total hours worked are satisfactory. These measures safeguard both the staff and their patients.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

30766; 381 c1032-3W;381 c1034W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Conditions of employment Nurses Working hours NHS Professionals

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk