Are NHS vetting systems up to the job?

A radiographer has been removed from the HPC Register for making false
statements on his CV and not disclosing a suspension order on an
application form.

A panel of the HPC Conduct and Competence Committee heard how Kayode
Balogun was suspended for one year for submitting a falsified document
to the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine in 1999.

On a CV later provided to a recruitment agency, Balogun falsely
declared that he was working during his one year suspension.

In February 2006, Balogun completed an application form for the post
of senior radiographer with the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust.
He didn’t disclose his suspension order as his reason for leaving his
previous position; instead he claimed he left to “look after his kids”.

NHS vetting systems came under scrutiny in February after research
showed a third of the 40 NHS trusts polled had had problems with
fraudulent applications.

Responding to reports of CV falsification in the NHS, Alastair
Henderson, deputy director of NHS Employers said: “NHS employers carry
out rigorous checks before they appoint any member of staff to a
position in the NHS and patients can have confidence that the staff
who treat them are who they say they are and that they have the
appropriate qualifications.

“Falsifying CVs or applications in an attempt to get a job in the NHS
is completely unacceptable. Thorough checks are carried out before
appointment to a post in the NHS and include verification of
qualifications, identity, registration with a professional body if
they are clinical staff and eligibility to work in the UK.

“Systems for vetting applicants for jobs in the NHS are continually
being strengthened and improved. In the next few weeks we will be
publishing a set of updated standards which will be mandatory from
April and which will be included in the core list of requirements on
which the independent Health Care Commission will inspect trusts.”

Posted: 05/04/2008