In this day and age of fast working, easy answers and quick solutions, does your compliance model reflect the urgency in the roles around it? Medicine in particular is an area which has faced, and will continue to face, myriad difficulties in having adaptable compliance procedures – and that’s why your approach to compliance should be as firm as ever- but, importantly, malleable.
In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic sent all areas of medical practice into tailspin: unprecedented demand on service, whilst also facing the highest level to risk medical staff across various countries had known since the last major pandemic meant that suddenly, adherence to rules was more important than ever whilst also being more difficult.
On the medical floor of hospitals during the pandemic, almost four in ten British medical staff stated that they felt unprotected in entirety from the virus- PPE chains were broken apart, with sub-standard equipment then being brought in, to try to replace the usually well-sourced and well-made equipment. We were also made aware that vital stockpiles of safety equipment were left to degrade, putting staff who were in dire need of safety equipment, squarely in danger. Staff were suddenly resorting to bin bags to ensure as much safety as they could get in such adverse conditions.
Across hospital boardrooms – panic.
Compliance with safety regulations was absolutely paramount, whilst the ability to do so was thrown into impossibility: and though staff rose to that challenge within the means they had, lessons may still not have been learned: in January 2025 mask wearing in clinical areas was mandated across a number of trusts due to a rise in flu & other winter bugs. Additionally, initiatives for cleaning staff to ensure that equipment which was regularly touched or handled were being brought in, and yet reports from within trusts reflected that compliance was considerably lower than would be hoped to prevent the further spread of illness.
The pandemic taught many lessons, but one can teach a lesson to an empty room. From a compliance perspective, many who were experts in the field of medical compliance & governance were struggling to rewrite rules whose entire ethos was patient and staff safety to allow medical work to continue without posing additional risk to staff and patient alike.
One of the key areas which changed in medical governance, was the long requested ability to conduct remote right to work checks. Fears were abound that the lack of face-to-face confirmation of document validity would lead to a rise in illegal working, a hot button topic for the UK government over the last decade in particular; and yet, the structures had been in place for quite some time to allow digital record checking.
The UK home office, UKVI and even independent document verification agencies had myriad equipment which allowed for digital ID checking- scans, online checks and more allowed for documentation to be verified without its physical presence.
Suddenly, checks which had long been mandated as in person only, were being carried out online. Additionally, recertification for training modules like basic life support, were able to be conducted over internet sessions.
The press carried dire warning of consequences- and yet, no major disasters occurred which were different than classic oversights already too routine. Staff continued to be checked, recertified and more and suddenly, compliance- strict rules- were adapted to fit a situation which had previously been practically unconsidered.
Compliance: what we can learn
Compliance is, at its heart, regulation to ensure best practice, safety & legality – which does not mean that the method of undertaking compliance checks cannot be adapted to fit the requirements. If documents can be checked online, should we demand that they are seen in person? Only those who write the laws and regulations can decide, but within those constraints, experts in legal compliance requirements are able to find new ways to make often lengthy processes more efficient.
Though the core tenet of the reason for the check and the procedures to follow for safety should always be adhered to, the ability to carry out checks on multiple fronts is key- a core suggestion would be to ensure that any document is verified in multiple ways beyond simply visual confirmation. Additionally, working constructively with new hires or existing staff requiring updated checks is a vital aspect of how you can make your compliance easier- simply engaging with individuals about the why and how of checks can allay fears & create easier dialogue as checks are carried out.
Working forwards to ensure patient safety
Compliance is not easy. It is, however, necessary.
Often we hear officials speak about deregulation, and whilst this concept is not innately negative, it’s always worth considering who is gaining from deregulation.
Checks which ensure patient and staff safety should always be taken seriously, considering that these checks then ensure that workers, patients & fellow colleagues can be reasonably assured that they are protected within the requirement of good governance- but when you can improve the processes which surround these checks, it may be of benefit to try.
From switching to faster tech, to writing clearer letters, to performing pre-emptive checks you can then verify, accuracy and clarity does not have to be sacrificed to speed.
If the world’s medics can adapt to a health risk which threatens humanity, so too can we, as administrators, ensure that our processes are easy to follow, but cut straight to the heart of dealing with compliance needs.
If you need assistance with your regulatory or compliance obligations, visit our services page to view our support services. You can also email us on: [email protected] or call us on 0207 183 9544 to arrange to speak to one of our Healthcare Governance Advisors.
