The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 273 No 7321 p550
16 October 2004

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NHS criminal record checks

New NHS staff who may come into contact with patients will be required to have a criminal record check from early next year, Health Minister John Hutton announced this week.

The Criminal Records Bureau checks will involve searching information held on the Police National Computer and by the Department for Education and Skills.

All staff with direct patient contact with be required to have these checks, as will any staff whose daily work may provide access to patients, such as maintenance workers. Although some NHS trusts already carry out criminal record checks, these checks are currently only mandatory for staff working with children.