Health Checks Taking Time For Agency NHS Staff

Recruitment of non-clinical staff (meaning administrative or clerical and porters) by the Purchasing and Supply Agency (PASA) has come under some scrutiny in some hospitals. Staffing situations have become quite desperate as hospitals await test results on the new staff on their immunity to Hepatitis B and several other serious conditions.

Tom Hadley, director of external relations at the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) said he would be contacting all on-line agencies and one off payment recruitment agencies ensuring they are aware of compliance required by the go live date of the regulation. New staff would be needed to undergo certain tests and medical checks by February 16th onwards and staff already employed to be done by August 1st 2009. Although most people feel reducing the chances of infections and disease in a hospital setting to be very important “We need to ensure that all the checks are absolutely necessary and proportionate,” states Tom Hadley, adding “Do admin staff with no contact with patients really need to have Hepatitis B checks?”