GP locums struggle to get smartcards

GP locums are working without NHS Connecting for Health smartcards because of problems in obtaining them, the British Medical Association has claimed.

The sessional GP sub-committee of the BMA’s General Practitioner Committee claims primary care trusts are variable in providing smartcards for locums and that they face difficulties providing cards for locums who work between many different practices and PCTs.

Dr Vicki Weeks, chairman of the sessional GP-sub committee, told EHI Primary Care: “It makes it difficult now. But if there was a flu pandemic, and you are hoping to use a lot of people who can’t use their smartcards, then that is a significant problem.”

Dr Weeks said the problem was being discussed with the GPC’s clinical and prescribing sub-committee and would be raised with the Department of Health.

A statement issued by NHS CFH to EHI Primary Care said the management of temporary and locum staff was always a difficult issue, especially where there was significant mobility of staff.

It added: “PCTs are responsible for ensuring those that need access to NHS Care Records Service applications have been provided with the appropriate means to do so.

“NHS CFH is working with strategic health authorities to provide support for local Registration Authorities with the registration of locum and temporary staff who need access to NHS CRS applications.

“Currently, two SHAs are running pilot schemes for locum and temporary staff, one of which includes an initiative to provide sessions for GPs to register at various times of the day.

“NHS CFH has drafted a paper which provides consolidated guidance on how to support temporary and locum staff once they have a smartcard. The paper is scheduled to be discussed at the next National Information Governance Board and is expected to be published within the next two weeks.”