Rethink on deaneries employment status

15 February 2010

THE government has been forced to rethink plans to exempt deaneries from employment agency legislation and to re-consult on the issue.

It had been considering dropping employment agency status and returning deaneries to their previous legal status. Critics argued this was not in the best interest of doctors and that doctors would have been deprived of many employment rights by the proposals. Campaign group Remedy UK has mounted a legal challenge to the plans and claims the government consultation on the issue was “flawed”.

In the face of opposition from Remedy UK and the BMA, the government announced in November that a number of deaneries were in favour of the plans. The government also reportedly has evidence that a failure to implement the changes could “seriously hinder” recruitment and training arrangements for junior doctors.

Government solicitors have agreed to re-consult on whether or not to introduce the exemption. The government has also agreed to negotiate a “code of conduct” for deaneries.

Remedy UK is now seeking the public’s view on the matter.