Following initial discussion with the Royal College of Surgeons, NHS Employers and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges have developed and launched the Certificate of Fitness for Honorary Practice, in response to problems with NHS consultant doctors being able to work temporarily or for short periods elsewhere in the NHS or at universities.
The existing system requires checks to be resolved before consultants can transfer between organisations, and this can be a lengthy process. However, consultants who are successfully eligible for the new certificates will immediately be able to carry out short-term, ad hoc or urgent activity in other hospitals and universities. The Certificate is intended to reduce the paperwork required for consultants to move between organisations so that they may more easily undertake short periods of work.
