18 January 2022
Updated: 25 January 2022
On 6 January 2022, the Government made new legislation, approved by Parliament, which amended the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 (“the 2014 Regulations”).
In accordance with these regulations, individuals undertaking CQC (Care Quality Commission) regulated activities in England must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no later than 1 April 2022. As a result, anyone who has not yet had a vaccine will need to have their first dose of the vaccine by 3 February 2022.
This legal requirement applies to anyone working with patients undertaking CQC regulated activities in England. For example, private practitioners commissioned to deliver services which are CQC regulated and students on placement in any CQC regulated service.
The RCSLT has raised concerns about the impact of this legislation with the national representative for the speech and language therapy profession in Unite the Union. We are keen to ensure that the profession and your voice is represented at meetings with government.
The RCSLT also encourages any members with concerns or questions regarding this to contact Unite the Union who, as the union for speech therapists in the UK, continue to lobby the government on behalf of the profession not to mandate vaccines. Unite the Union is supportive of the COVID-19 vaccination programme, in that it is known to reduce the severity of symptoms and reduce the pressures on the NHS, but is opposed to the mandating of vaccinations in this way. Unite is also working to support members in their decisions and through the HR processes now being undertaken.
For more details, please read the information for healthcare workers on the NHS website, read the information on the Unite the Union website, or contact Unite directly.
Please contact our enquiries team at info@rcslt.org with any queries.
