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Junior doctor criminal check fear Junior doctor criminal check fear
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Large numbers of junior doctors will start work at hospitals next week without the required security checks, it has been claimed.Large numbers of junior doctors will start work at hospitals next week without the required security checks, it has been claimed.
Criminal record searches take a month, but junior doctors training scheme delays mean some trusts still do not have all the names of new doctors.Criminal record searches take a month, but junior doctors training scheme delays mean some trusts still do not have all the names of new doctors.
Doctors' group Remedy UK said it could hit patient care, as without clearance, clinical staff should be supervised.Doctors' group Remedy UK said it could hit patient care, as without clearance, clinical staff should be supervised.
The Department of Health hoped all doctors would be checked in time. But the Department of Health said no more than 30 doctors would be affected.
Of the 32,000 junior doctors moving to new hospitals on the national changeover day next Wednesday, 3,000 have never worked for the NHS before.Of the 32,000 junior doctors moving to new hospitals on the national changeover day next Wednesday, 3,000 have never worked for the NHS before.
It is inevitable that many doctors will not have checks in place in time Matt Jameson-Evans, Remedy UKIt is inevitable that many doctors will not have checks in place in time Matt Jameson-Evans, Remedy UK
If the doctor is a UK citizen, the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) can be asked to check for any convictions which might make them unsuitable to treat patients.If the doctor is a UK citizen, the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) can be asked to check for any convictions which might make them unsuitable to treat patients.
If the doctor comes from outside the UK, trusts have to make similar enquiries in their country of origin.If the doctor comes from outside the UK, trusts have to make similar enquiries in their country of origin.
In 2006/07, 85% of checks on UK doctors were completed within 28 days. Currently, more than 95% of these "enhanced" CRB checks are completed within 28 days.
The Prime Minister has pledged to tighten checks on medical staff following the recent arrest of doctors in connection with terrorist plots in Glasgow and London.The Prime Minister has pledged to tighten checks on medical staff following the recent arrest of doctors in connection with terrorist plots in Glasgow and London.
Dr Jeremy Levy, director of medical education at the Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust, that the names of doctors joining the trust next week had not arrived in time for criminal records checks to be completed.Dr Jeremy Levy, director of medical education at the Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust, that the names of doctors joining the trust next week had not arrived in time for criminal records checks to be completed.
"When they arrive, we need them to do the work, so we will have no choice but to allow them to work until we have received full police clearance.""When they arrive, we need them to do the work, so we will have no choice but to allow them to work until we have received full police clearance."
Last year, he said, his trust got three months' notice of its new arrivals. There has been widespread criticism of this year's arrangements to allocate junior doctors to training posts in England and Wales.Last year, he said, his trust got three months' notice of its new arrivals. There has been widespread criticism of this year's arrangements to allocate junior doctors to training posts in England and Wales.
SupervisedSupervised
This has been led by pressure group Remedy UK, who say they highlighted the issue of criminal records checks back in May.This has been led by pressure group Remedy UK, who say they highlighted the issue of criminal records checks back in May.
Matt Jameson-Evans, from the group, said: "Many trusts still have unfilled posts, less than a week before the day when they are expected to start employing these doctors, so it is inevitable that many doctors will not have checks in place in time.Matt Jameson-Evans, from the group, said: "Many trusts still have unfilled posts, less than a week before the day when they are expected to start employing these doctors, so it is inevitable that many doctors will not have checks in place in time.
"In some areas, such as the Trent region in the Midlands, the rate of unfilled posts is still high."In some areas, such as the Trent region in the Midlands, the rate of unfilled posts is still high.
"Although in theory anyone working with patients without CRB checks should be supervised, in reality there is no way that trusts can achieve that.""Although in theory anyone working with patients without CRB checks should be supervised, in reality there is no way that trusts can achieve that."
Shadow Health Secretary Andrews Lansley said: "This is another consequence of the disastrous implementation of the medical training application system.Shadow Health Secretary Andrews Lansley said: "This is another consequence of the disastrous implementation of the medical training application system.
"Hospitals are being put in the situation where they either delay staff taking up appointments and risk services to patients, or else have to appoint staff without completing checks.""Hospitals are being put in the situation where they either delay staff taking up appointments and risk services to patients, or else have to appoint staff without completing checks."
A spokesman for the Department of Health said that it was working with the CRB to try to ensure that all doctors had been checked before starting work. However, the Department of Health insisted that only a relatively small number of junior doctors would be affected by the problem.
She added: "CRB checks are mandatory for all new staff who come into contact with patients in the course of their duties. A spokesman said: "The maximum number of incoming junior doctors where there could be a slight delay with pre-employment CRB checks is 30 - and the Criminal Records Bureau can provide help for any Trusts who need to urgently check a doctor who has come from abroad.
"Of the 32,000 junior doctor applicants this year, the vast majority - over 29,000 - are already working as NHS doctors. "Ninety five per cent of junior doctors who have accepted training posts this year come from the NHS. For them, this is not an issue because they will already have received CRB checks.
"This means they will already have completed a CRB check." "Around 600 junior doctors have accepted training posts in the past month and may therefore be affected by delays in the process because it takes 28 days to do a CRB check.
"Assuming five per cent of these affected doctors are from outside the NHS, the maximum number of doctors where there is a real issue is 30."