Vaccination Deadline Looms Closer
- Details
- Published: Thursday, 20 January 2022 07:42
- Written by Peter Ingle
- Hits: 1243
With the publication of an updated VCOD, that is the vaccination as a condition of deployment letter by NHS England, the clock is now running down to the loss of even more dental team members. The deadlines to be vaccinated are February 3rd for the first dose, and April 1st for the second.
The letter with the English CDO as the last of its seven signatories, starts by stating that it applies to all healthcare workers and then goes on to define who is affected.
It makes clear that the regulations apply to the NHS and independent health sectors and includes all those undertaking CQC regulated activities in both primary and secondary care. Those include workers involved in face-to-face contact with people receiving care. Dentistry is specifically mentioned and the regulations apply to those in clinical and non-clinical roles, irrespective of employment arrangements.
An attached document on implementation covers the possible consequences of non-vaccination by staff. It states that
“Employers will need to consider the termination of employment of staff whose roles are in scope of the regulations and who refuse to be vaccinated in-line with the mandated timescales”.
As would be expected, it also includes the possibilities of redeployment to a non-patient facing role and the processes of discussion and consultation to consider before dismissal. Where it is decided to be appropriate, notices of dismissal should not be issued before 4 February 2022 and should not expire before 31 March 2022.
Apart from those who have an accepted exemption, staff who have not had their first vaccination could start to receive dismissal notices soon. Exemptions are referred to in the accompanying FAQ’s and are limited. Readers are referred to the Covid section of the Green Book(1) for greater detail.
The updated VCOD document will make stark reading for those who hoped that a fudge could be found that might allow unvaccinated workers to continue working in healthcare. Back in December 2021 the BDA reported the results of a survey it had carried out showing that over 30% of practices were at risk of losing dental nurses and up to 15% of dentists could be leaving. They warned of the potential damage to a workforce already “stretched to breaking point”. Current estimates of the likely numbers departing the dental workforce are hard to come by, and it is likely that a proportion of the survey respondents will have now decided to get vaccinated.
Could there still be a last minute change of heart? The letter does contain the rider that it is “iterative guidance which will be reviewed regularly” and reflect legislative changes. The latest announcement that Plan B measures are to begin winding down might be the prelude to an eventual U- turn, but with the current febrile atmosphere in government, ministers may have other things on their minds between now and February 3rd
Writing for the BDJ in December Shaun Sellars was technically correct to say that workers have the right to say no to vaccination and find another job. There would though, be some drastic implications for those with commitments and bills they need to pay, and this probably covers the majority of dental team members. Indeed Shaun Sellars also wrote of the advantages of using a carrot rather than stick approach.
Against a backdrop of frequent reports of unfilled vacancies for dentists and nurses, and the countdown to April 1st progressing, practice managers must be hoping that the Government’s stick will have won the argument with hesitant staff
You need to be logged in to leave comments.
Report