NHS Direct Closes. What do you Think? Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has announced the plan to close down NHS Direct in England. As the BBC reported: NHS Direct currently employs more than 3,000 staff, 40% of whom are trained nurses. It is understood the ratio on the 1-1-1 helpline is slightly less in the pilot, [...]

Recruiters, employers and healthcare workers have welcomed plans for the introduction of a ‘skills passport’. A one-year pilot project was conducted among nursing staff at seven English NHS Trusts during 2009/10 seeking to test ‘proof of concept’ for the passport which allows workers to create a verified online record of their skills, qualifications and experience. [...]

The Department of Health (DH) has relaxed its position on the use of Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) Certificates, effectively introducing a limited system of “portability” for care services regulated by CQC. This new approach applies in services provided to adults (but not children) in England and allows employers – under certain circumstances – to accept [...]

The Department of Health (DoH) has announced its intention to explore options with the private sector for potential investment in NHS Professionals (NHSP) – the organisation that was initially set up as an in-house provider of flexible staff within the NHS. Underlining the significance of the announcement, Tom Hadley, the REC’s Director of External Relations [...]