David Drew (Stroud, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason the requirement for a junior doctor to reside in accommodation supplied by the hospital approved for training was ended in April 2007; and what discussions he has had with the NHS Confederation and individual trusts on putting alternative arrangements in place.

Ann Keen (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Health Services), Department of Health; Brentford & Isleworth, Labour)

Changes to the Medical Act 1983 made in August 2007 remove the requirement for pre-registration doctors to be employed in a 'residential medical capacity'. This represents an improvement in their conditions of service and reflects the reduction in their working hours. As the statutory requirement to be resident no longer exists, these doctors will need to make the same arrangements as other national health service staff.

This issue was considered by the independent Doctors and Dentists Review Body (DDRB) in their 2008 report following evidence submitted by the British Medical Association, NHS Employers (part of the NHS Confederation) and the United Kingdom Health Departments. The DDRB concluded

"...we consider it entirely appropriate that junior doctors are treated in exactly the same way as other NHS staff."

Copies of the "Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration, 37^(th) report, 2008" are available in the Library.