The UK government has asked the General Medical Council to contact doctors who have retired within the last six years and grant them temporary registration, a licence to practice and return to the GP performers list or secondary care equivalent.
Without consulting the individuals concerned the GMC passed their details to local health services. Tens of thousands of retired doctors will be contacted, encouraging them to return to practice.
Doctors are able to opt out, but if they do choose to start working again they must be assured of protection.
They should:
- Complete a short survey to help determine skills.
- Complete identity checks including a declaration of honesty letter, Disclosure and Barring Service declaration, and occupational health questionnaire.
- Have a choice in what work to be involved in.
- Expect to be tested for SARS-Cov2.
- Not be expected to work if they choose not to for any reason.
- Not be expected to work if they have co-morbidities.
- Not be expected to work in direct patient facing roles. This recognises that increasing age is most likely an independent risk factor for severity of illness. Several retired health care workers who returned to work have died. Early epidemiological data suggests that BAME health care workers may also be at increased risk.
Suitable roles include:
- Telephone support for NHS 111.
- Helping in out-patients or GP surgeries by telephone.
- Backfill for clinicians in direct patient facing roles.
- Training other clinicians.
- Psychological support and mentorship for clinicians on the front line.
- Support for public health and community roles e.g. contact tracing.
Employment working conditions as laid out by the four devolved governments [1], [2], [3], [4] and GMC [5] guidance includes:
- Suitable pay and remuneration.
- Six month contracts of employment.
- Annual leave.
- Employment by one organisation.
- Pension protection.
- Death in service benefits.
- Free government indemnity cover with advice and support from defence unions [6].
- No need for revalidation.
- Induction and suitable training including Information Technology.
- Provision of suitable equipment including IT, laptops, mobile phones, smartcards and passwords.
- Proper home working facilities.
- Suitable Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).
- The expectation to work within limits of competency and the right to leave at anytime by submitting a notice period of no more than a week.
[2] https://gov.wales/doctors-returning-nhs-assist-covid-19-guidance-html
[4] https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/Covid-19-returning-professionals
[6] https://bma-mail.org.uk/JVX-6TQS5-S0FWOA-40RGIL-1/c.aspx
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