Surgeons’ concern grows over criminal check delays
BMJ 2010; 340 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.c1184 (Published 03 March 2010) Cite this as: BMJ 2010;340:c1184
Overzealous interpretation of the rules on Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks are forcing hospitals to cancel paediatric operating lists and outpatient clinics because surgeons working with children can’t get clearance soon enough, says the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Despite concerns being raised earlier this year (BMJ Careers 2009, http://careers.bmj.com/careers/advice/view-article.html?id=20000686), surgeons are still not able to get through CRB checks fast enough to move from one trust to another if a rare medical case comes up that needs to be dealt with urgently or to cover for absences.
John Black, president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said the college had flagged up the situation with the government on three separate occasions in a three month period. “We were reassured that a solution would be reached within a week,” he said. “That surgeons are still faced with this situation is simply unbelievable.”
The college believes there is no solution on the horizon.
The delays have also meant that trainee paediatric surgeons are missing out on crucial training because they are unable to work across different hospital sites, the college claims.
It wants to see the immediate roll out of passport-style arrangements that allow NHS staff who have already undergone an enhanced CRB check in one NHS trust to be recognised across the entire health service.
Although a new scheme that should address the issue is due to come into full force in 2011, the college says trusts are being overly cautious in the meantime. Some trusts are demanding that NHS surgeons who have already undergone enhanced CRB checks go through the time consuming process each and every time they work in a different trust. This process can take several months.
As a result, some trusts are unable to fill locum positions or are having to wait up to three months for surgeons to begin work, resulting in delays in treating patients and difficulties hitting government targets.
Meanwhile, some trainee surgeons have had more than 10 separate CRB checks in just two years.