Hutton promises to strengthen NHS “poaching” code
The Health Minister has reacted to criticism that the NHS is continuing to poach staff from developing countries by strengthening the recruitment code.
Although there are regulations already in place to prevent excessive staff recruitment by the NHS directly, there have long been concerns about “back door” recruitment.
This refers to the situation whereby a private health agency can recruit staff, and then place them within the NHS on temporary contracts, whereas the NHS would not have been able to recruit the staff directly for permanent contracts.
Speaking on Wednesday, John Hutton said that he would be closing the loophole allowing healthcare providers to bring in locum and temporary staff from developing countries and extending the code to agencies that work on NHS domestic recruitment.
As an incentive for agencies to sign up to the code – which will not be mandatory – Mr Hutton said that those agencies that sign up would be able to access the NHS’s international recruitment programme.
Mr Hutton said: “We are determined not to destabilise the healthcare system of developing countries. The NHS is expanding, but we’re not going to do that at the expense of other countries. We are working with the private sector to ensure it follows the NHS’ example.
“These proposals will strengthen the code even further, bring the private sector into line with the NHS and will ensure that, as with Independent Treatment Centres, NHS contracts go to those signed up to the code.
“We’re also proposing closing the loophole that allows Trusts to recruit temporary staff from developing countries and extending the code to cover even more recruitment agencies.
“The revised code will ensure the NHS recruits staff ethically and fairly.”
Full details of the revised code are expected to be published later this year.
For some the proposals do not go far enough, nursing unions are pushing for the code to be made compulsory, and the Opposition has suggested that the NHS should refuse to work with agencies that have not signed up to the code.
