Policy on pre-employment health assessment for nurses

The purpose of carrying out pre-employment health checks is for the protection of both healthcare worker and patient to:

ensure that prospective staff are physically and psychologically capable of doing the work proposed, taking into account any current or previous illness
identify anyone likely to be at excess risk of developing work-related diseases from hazardous agents present in the workplace;
ensure, as far as possible, that the prospective employee does not represent a risk to patients and that they will be doing work that is suitable and safe for them.

The procedures in place at Direct Medics to carry out pre-employment health checks and verify the health screening process constitute a three-step process:

Serology reports: New registrants must provide signed screening information appropriate to the work they are seeking; for all applicants this would involve original printed Pathology report showing correct name, date of birth and date of test. Reports will include:

Hepatitis B surface antibody level
Evidence of a BCG scar viewed by a suitably trained and experienced Occupational Health Nurse or Dept
Evidence of either 2 MMR immunisations or a positive antibody for Rubella and Measles
Proof of a positive antibody or evidence of two doses of the Varicella vaccine

In addition, anyone seeking work in an exposure-prone setting must provide identity-validated reports relating to

Hepatitis C
HIV
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen status

New registrants will normally have received copies of each of these reports from the Occupational Health department at their most recent place of employment. If, for any reason, the required reports cannot be provided your Compliance Officer will put you in touch with either a local Occupational Health service or a postal pathology service to obtain the relevant screening information. Please note we can only proceed with booking assignments when health status has been verified and confirmed.

Health Declaration: a questionnaire detailing travel history, full screening history and general health questions provided by the Compliance Officer for completion. The health declaration must be completed no more than three months in advance of completing registration with the company;
Fit Slip: For anyone seeking hospital work in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. Serology reports and health declaration are submitted to Healthier Business, our independent Consultant-led Occupational Health service. Healthier Business will verify suitability to work in either an exposure-prone or non exposure-prone setting. The fit slip will detail any adjustments required to enable registrants to undertake the duties required.