Junior Doctor Working Hours (see 2011-703)

Request

Thank you for sending this information through, it's great to have all this data.  The PDFs covering the number of derogated rotas (question 6) are particularly interesting as they list all the SHAs in England.  Am I correct in thinking that these documents show all the derogated rotas as of August 2009 and Novemeber 2009?  The section for East Midlands lists F2 and ST rotas in eight specialties - does this mean that these junior doctor rota are currently derogated to 52 hours a week until the end of July this year?

Our response

I refer to your email requesting information in respect of junior doctor working hours. 

I can confirm in accordance with S.1 (1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) that we do hold the information that you have requested.  I will address your queries in turn:

Question 1:

Am I correct in thinking that these documents show all the derogated rotas as of August 2009 and November 2009?  

• The documents provided are the statutory instrument which forms the legislation for all Trust in England.

   

Question 2:

The section for East Midlands lists F2 and ST rotas in eight specialties - does this mean that these junior doctor rota are currently derogated to 52 hours a week until the end of July this year?

• The rotas listed have been granted exception to the 48 hour regulation allowing them to work up to 52 hours with effect from 1st August 2009 until 31st July 2011.

   

• This however does not reflect the current working hours of those rotas which are derogated. For example Derby Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, who applied for derogation for multiple rotas because they were moving to new the new build hospitals, did not need to use the derogations and have been compliant with the 48 hours working week since August 2009 despite the derogations.

I hope that this information is of use.  If you are dissatisfied with the way in which we have dealt with your request you can ask us to review our decision by writing to:-

Mr Moosa Patel
Director of Corporate Affairs
NHS East Midlands
Octavia House
Interchange Business Park
Bostock's Lane
Sandiacre
Nottingham
NG10 5QG

If at the conclusion of any review you remain dissatisfied you may complain to the Information Commissioner who can be contacted at:-

The Office of the Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF