By 2005 NHS hopefuls will be faced with Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks; Health Minister John Hutton said the new measures would increase patient safety.
The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) allows CRB checks to be carried out only on staff that will have access to patients in their normal duties.
This means that any workers that may come into contact with patients will have their records checked including cleaners and maintenance workers.
Checks are only currently run on staff working with children. CRB assessments are commonplace in other areas of the public services, particularly in education and social work.
John Hutton said:
“We want to do all we can to ensure the safety of patients receiving treatment on the NHS. Checks on the criminal records of new recruits will help us achieve this aim. The security of patients must always be our top priority.
“The results of the checks will help NHS employers make safer recruitment decisions and give the public extra piece of mind.”
The majority of NHS employers back the move and many NHS Trusts already carry out checks on eligible candidates.
Hugh Chapman, Associate Director of Human Resources, Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust, said:
“It is our policy that our recruitment team carry out criminal records checks on behalf of Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust and six Primary Care Trusts across Berkshire for all new recruits into posts working with vulnerable adults, adolescents and children. In addition, we also check administrative staff who may be in contact with patients in the course of their duties.”
The problems associated with unsatisfactory recruitment checks is highlighted in the case of David Sirha.
He was employed by Leeds Community and Mental Health Services as a part time Phlebotomist.
Unbeknown to the employer Sirha had concealed previous convictions for serious sexual offences and had served a 12-month period of imprisonment.
Sirha was duly suspended from duty and dismissed following a disciplinary hearing for which he failed to show up.
On 1 October 2004 he was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.
