Summary of the changes to the Code of Practice

In 2004, the Department of Health carried out a review of the Code of Practice. As a result of this review, a revised version of the code was published in December 2004.

The principle changes to the new edition of the code are as follows:

• The Code of Practice applies to the recruitment through agencies of temporary/locum healthcare professionals, as well as permanent staff
• The scope has been widened to enable all healthcare organisations, including the independent sector, to sign up to the principles contained within the Code of Practice
• NHS commended to only use recruitment agencies that comply with the Code of Practice for both domestic and international recruitment
• To offer best practice benchmarks for all parties involved in international recruitment.

In April 2004 NHS Employers wrote to all the agencies on the current Code of Practice list informing them of the details of the revisions to the code and outlining the action the agencies would have to undertake to continue to be included on the list. In December 2005, NHS Employers issued a list of agencies who have signed up to the revised code.