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IMPORTANT update re: junior doctor rotas and the contract in England for the coming #COVID19 surge - @TheBMA @BMA_JuniorDocs have published the following statement on management of rostering:https://www.bma.org.uk/news-and-opinion/statement-on-junior-doctor-rostering-and-workforce-management-during-the-second-wave
Please share with colleagues (and those in charge of rotas!)
Key points:
- The contract MUST be adhered to (across all rotas, including COVID rotas)
- All junior drs must be appropriately risk assessed including specialist occupational health assessment where indicated; safety is paramount. All staff must have access to appropriate PPE.
- The contract MUST be adhered to (across all rotas, including COVID rotas)
- All junior drs must be appropriately risk assessed including specialist occupational health assessment where indicated; safety is paramount. All staff must have access to appropriate PPE.
- All new / amended rotas require a work schedule (or equivalent mechanism for the purposes of correct calculation of hours, safety limits and pay) - there must be no financial detriment to trainees due to changes outside their control.
- Ahead of any rota changes, the affected doctors, and their trade union reps, must be consulted and directly involved in any design or modification of a rota
- Less-than-full-time (LTFT) doctors must have their LTFT status protected, unless they specifically agree otherwise.
- Less-than-full-time (LTFT) doctors must have their LTFT status protected, unless they specifically agree otherwise.
- Where possible the usual 6 week notice of a change in duty pattern should continue to apply, however, at a minimum, once finalised any COVID-19 rota must be supplied to all affected doctors no less than 14 calendar days prior to the change coming into effect.
- Annual leave (and anticipated days off that a junior doctor is unable to work) must be honoured where the rota is changed.
- Annual leave is important for rest/recuperation. Any not able to be taken due to pressures must be paid or carried forward without detriment.
- Annual leave is important for rest/recuperation. Any not able to be taken due to pressures must be paid or carried forward without detriment.
- All efforts should be made to maintain and deliver teaching, training and access to educational opportunities.
- Where exams continue, trainees must be facilitated to take these (including access to study leave)
- Where exams continue, trainees must be facilitated to take these (including access to study leave)
- De-escalation back to standard rotas must also be managed with consultation and notice as above
- The BMA has produced guidance for doctors regarding redeployment during COVID-19, which should be referred to in conjunction with this document.
- The BMA has produced guidance for doctors regarding redeployment during COVID-19, which should be referred to in conjunction with this document.
This is all designed to ensure that staff safety and wellbeing remains paramount throughout this difficult period, whilst recognising the need for a degree of flexibility and adaptation to a rapidly evolving situation.
(I recommend reading the statement in full also however!)
(I recommend reading the statement in full also however!)
