Immunisation requirements

Immunisation requirements

• Hepatitis B

  The Department of Health insists on protecting Healthcare Workers and patients from acquiring and/or infecting others with Hepatitis B. Hospitals insist on Healthcare Workers providing evidence of their UK. Hepatitis B status which must be an Identified Validated Sample, and require a photocopy of an original UK pathology report which must include:

  • Your full name
  • Your date of birth
  • The date of your test
  • Your specific surface antibody levels or if you are a non-responder to the vaccine, or naturally immune, your surface antigen status

  Your General Practitioner or Occupational Health Department will be able to assist you in obtaining the above samples. In the absence of these, Search can help arrange a blood test to comply with these requirements which will provide a result within 24 hours.

  For all Healthcare Workers undertaking Exposure Prone Procedures (EPP), a 12 month surface antigen is required in addition to antibody results. Hand-written evidence will not be accepted. Under the new Department of Health guidelines, individuals who are surface antigen positive and Hepatitis B e-antigen negative and are performing Exposure Prone Procedures, must also provide evidence of a Hepatitis B virus DNA test showing the current viral load, as there is now evidence that some of these individuals are capable of transmitting infection to patients.

• Hepatitis C

  The Department of Health now requires all Healthcare Workers performing Exposure Prone Procedures to provide written evidence of a negative Hepatitis C result, which must be an Identified Validated Sample

• Rubella

  Evidence of immunity to Rubella, presented on a pathology report or a health declaration from an Occupational Health Department or Occupational Health trained nurse or assessor is required.

• MMR

  All applicants must forward evidence of immunity against MMR. Proof of the 2 vaccinations 4 weeks apart are required from an Occupational Health Department or GP Practice. Alternatively pathology reports demonstrating adequate immunity levels are also acceptable from accredited laboratories.

• Varicella

  You can self declare your immune status to Varicella on the Search Occupational Health Declaration Form - which you should request from your consultant.

• Tuberculosis

  Hospitals are now insisting on seeing documented evidence from an Occupational Health Department or General Practitioner practice showing immunity to Tuberculosis. Written evidence of a visible and palpable BCG scar and/or a positive Heaf/Mantoux test will be accepted as proof of immunity to Tuberculosis. We require an Occupational Health/General Practitioner certificate of a positive scar or a record of a positive skin test result and notification if you have worked in a Tuberculosis prevalent area, where HIV is also prevalent over the last three years. A TB Scar Check evidence form can be obtained from your consultant at your request.

• HIV

  All applicants who wish to perform EPPs should provide test results for HIV antibodies. This must be provided as a HIV Pathology Report and must be an Identified Validated Sample.

• COVID-19

  Health and Social Care Secretary reminds unvaccinated health and care workers of their professional responsibility to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Although it is not a legal requirement, it is at the discretion of the service whether you are required to be vaccinated to perform your duties.

• Fit to practice

  For your own health and for those in your care, it is important that you are fit to practice on each assignment. You are required to declare you are fit to practice before each assignment. You must not declare that you are fit to practice if you are suffering from any of the following conditions:

  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhoea
  • Rash

  Always inform Search if you become injured or diagnosed with any condition. You should also inform your consultant if you become pregnant because of any potential risks to the unborn child. Please contact your branch immediately, should you become concerned that an assignment might involve risk to your health, safety or fitness, or to that of your unborn child.

  Search reserves the right to request a certificate of fitness to practice from your GP or an Occupational Health Department/Service. Clients of Search Health & Social Care may also ask that you undergo a medical examination prior to assignment and future placements may be dependent on your compliance and the outcome of the examination, provided the request is made with good reason.