DAUK co-chairs Dr Matt Kneale and Ms Helen Fernandes wrote to NHS England over the planned changes, which were due to come into effect on 17 August.

The changes would mean that when a user leaves an NHS organisation to join another, they would only take their email address while their data, permissions and access would be archived with the former organisation.

Dr Kneale and Ms Fernandes said that while DAUK supported the proper protection of patient and confidential information, doctors must not lose access to essential work communications when moving between NHS roles or organisations.

Now Chris Parsons, NHS England deputy director collaboration services, has written to DAUK to say it is pausing the planned implementation ahead of a meeting with the association.

Implementation paused

He apologised ‘for any distress and uncertainty this has caused’, and said: “Following feedback received from the Doctors’ Association UK (DAUK) and individual doctors over the weekend, we have decided to pause the planned implementation of the replacement Joiner Leaver and Transfer process on NHS.net Connect.”

He said NHS England was ‘considering additional technical measures, reviewing and updating our guidance, and developing clearer information for staff undertaking learning pathways or moving between organisations as part of regular rotations’. 

Dr Kneale said: “We are grateful for this swift, receptive response. The process must work safely for patients, staff and rotating doctors.”

Read the letter from Chris Parsons, NHS England deputy director collaboration services.

DAUK committee members are all volunteers and campaign on issues facing frontline doctors in their own time. Please support our work by joining DAUK or donating to our GoFundMe.

The changes would mean that when a user leaves an NHS organisation to join another, they would only take their email address while their data, permissions and access would be archived with the former organisation.

They were due to come into effect on 17 August.

In a letter to NHS England, co-chairs Dr Matt Kneale and Ms Helen Fernandes said that while DAUK supports the proper protection of patient and confidential information, but that doctors must not lose access to essential work communications when moving between NHS roles or organisations.

Dr Kneale said: “The changes may particularly affect rotational doctors, locums and doctors with more than one NHS role.
“We have asked for implementation to be paused while key safeguards are agreed.

“These include no preventable gap in access, clear guidance and urgent support, and safe arrangements for professional records and material connected with whistleblowing.”

Read the letter.

DAUK committee members are all volunteers and campaign on issues facing frontline doctors in their own time. Please support our work by joining DAUK or donating to our GoFundMe.

Picture credit: Sasun Bughdaryan on Unsplash