Update 26 June

Latest message from Angela Tillet, our Chief Medical Officer, regarding the medical bank and agency staff requests:

Dear colleagues

Further to my previous communication, I am writing to provide clarity over the Medical & Dental Bank rates and the oversight process that was agreed this week by the Executive Team.

From Monday 29 June 2026, there will be a weekly panel to approve all medical bank and agency requests. This is because we have a role to play in delivering the Trust’s financial plan for this year and reflect the national ask of all Trusts to review the rates of pay for medical bank and agency spend. 

Please see the new process outlined below, and two new rate cards have been approved by the Trust for Medical & Dental bank rates and Medical & Dental (Substantive only) enhanced rates:

1. All bank/agency requests (even if they have prior approval) now need to be submitted to the Medical Bank and Agency Control Panel which will meet each week. Please review all submitted requests to make sure the information detailed below has been completed.

2. Requests for bank need to be submitted via Medi-Rota and a temporary staffing form completed with the UID added on Medi-Rota in advance and agency requests need to be submitted via the temporary staffing form.

3. Requests must include the following:

• If covering a vacancy, you must include the ECF, UID number and the previous post holder's name

• If covering sickness, the person off sick must be entered. This is to ensure that the correct process is being followed and the sickness is linked with the Employee Helpdesk and a return-to-work interview carried out. For short term 'on the day sickness', approval must be via the DMT. However, the name of the individual who is being covered is still required for retrospective audit.

• For out of hours emergency cover, all requests must go through the Site Operations Team who will notify the relevant Division for retrospective approval.

• If bank/agency is required for additional capacity/duties this must be signed off by the DMT before coming to the panel

• Ordinarily, annual leave and study leave must be covered internally via careful rota management. If this is not possible an explanation needs to be provided, the name of the person being covered is required and approval by the DMT must be sought before coming to the panel. 

4. The panel’s decisions will be shared with the DMT and the person making the request.

5. Only approved hours will be paid. It is therefore essential that the bookings match the hours approved.

6. Pay: Please note new banks rates. 

7. All bank shifts must be entered. No retrospective bookings will be approved apart from hours approved by the Site Operation Teams for emergency out of hours cover.

Please make sure that all the current fields are completed accurately to ensure that we can provide you with approval as soon as possible whilst strengthening the governance and ensuring patient safety is maintained.  

Thank you in advance for your support.

Dr Angela Tillett

Chief Medical Officer