Gemma Nicholas

How does the CQC expect practices to handle complaints?

Over the last two years, many have predicted that there would be an upsurge in GP complaints, owing to the changes in working practices to cope with COVID-19. This article explores what primary medical service providers can do to strengthen their complaints processes with the aim of avoiding falling foul of Regulations 16 and 17 …

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UPDATE: Revoking of Vaccination as a Condition of Deployment

On 31 January 2022, the Government announced that it was looking to scrap vaccinations as a condition of deployment (VCOD) in health and all social care settings, with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care stating that “it is no longer proportionate to require Vaccination as a Condition of Deployment through statute.” This …

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UPDATE: Statement on Scrapping Vaccination as a Condition of Deployment

On 31 January 2022 the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid, made a statement that “it is no longer proportionate to require Vaccination as a Condition of Deployment through statute.” Policy Review Sajid Javid acknowledges that, in December 2021, he argued that the weight of clinical evidence in favour of Vaccination …

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Dismissal and Vaccination – Allette v Scarsdale Grange Nursing Home Limited

An Employment Tribunal has determined that a Care Assistant, Ms C Allette (“Allette”), was fairly dismissed from a nursing home following her refusal to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Allette had been employed by Scarsdale Grange Nursing Home Limited (“Scarsdale Grange”) for 14 years as a Care Assistant in its 52 bedded nursing home which provides …

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JCHR inquiry into care home COVID-19 visiting restrictions

The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) will be taking evidence as part of a new inquiry into protecting human rights in care settings. On 12 January 2022 the Committee will hear from residents’ family members, representatives of campaign groups Rights for Residents, Age UK and the Relatives and Residents Association. The new inquiry will …

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Two additional exceptions to mandatory vaccinations

The draft regulations, the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) (No.2) Regulations 2021 was made into law* yesterday and as reported in my article the grace period before the regulations applying to the healthcare sector commenced. It is important for providers to note that the new legislation makes further amendments to …

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Government commissions KPMG to review healthcare regulatory landscape

The Department of Health and Social Care has commissioned KPMG to review the healthcare regulatory landscape and to make recommendations on whether the regulatory system can be simplified and the number of healthcare regulators reduced. The review will look at the following independent healthcare regulators: General Medical Council Nursing and Midwifery Council General Optical Council …

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