Received from: SoR
NHS patients expect every person supporting them in the treatment pathway to be appropriately trained and qualified; secure in an employment contract meeting basic employment standards; and free from fear and exploitation by their employer.
Many thousands of patients are being referred on for medical scans to independent providers with no apparent due diligence or accountability from the NHS referrer. The SoR’s evidence shows particular concerns in ultrasound scanning, resulting from decades of structural under-investment in growing this specialist workforce capacity, and failing to close a registration loophole for some sonographers. To reduce waiting lists quickly, contracts are being let without any evident accountability.
This facilitates exploitation of vulnerable workers and increases risks for patients. SoR has evidenced people working excessive hours under threat of deportation if they challenge poor professional practice; threats to make people pay thousands to escape contracts; and abuses of wider employment rights.
Congress therefore calls on the UK government to:
i. ensure all NHS contractors meet existing standards of employment practice, including immigration regulations before qualifying for NHS referrals
ii. ensure all NHS bodies publish records of all outsourced work outsourced with an account of their due diligence conducted before referring patients
iii. adapt NHS management and leadership standards to support this accountability
iv. close the sonography registration loophole
v. support cross-department liaison including unions and other social partners to shut down employers using modern slavery techniques in employment contracts.
SoR
AMENDMENT
Point bullet iii. after the words “NHS management and leadership standards” add “and ensure NHS organisations have the management capacity and capability to support effective governance, quality assurance and accountability in NHS contracting.”
FDA