The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has recently issued guidance regarding consent for vaccination by non-registered health care service workers (HCSW)- mainly Health Care Assistants in general practice.
This clarifies that where a HCSW is providing a vaccine under a Patient Specific Direction, which is the normal practice in a GP influenza or covid vaccination clinic, then the HCSW cannot gain consent, and this must be done by a registered healthcare professional (GP or Nurse).
Detailed information can be found in these documents:
- UKHSA: Advice on consent to immunisation
- NHS England: Role of Healthcare Support Workers in Vaccination Programmes
- BMA Focus on.-. vaccination by non-registered healthcare workers
The BMA has confirmed that informed consent can be gained by a healthcare professional in advance of a vaccination clinic.
Dr Dhanji (Deputy CEO LMC and Vaccination Lead) has written a step-by-step guide to using AccuRx to collect consent in advance.
