Doctors should be supported by their employers to carry out work for the wider health system

A letter reminding employers to support doctors who contribute their time for the wider benefit of the health system has been sent to NHS chief executives and medical directors.

Signed by NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard, chief medical officer Chris Whitty, NHS England and NHS Improvement medical director Steve Powis, GMC chair Carrie MacEwen and Academy of Medical Royal Colleges chair Helen Stokes-Lampard, the letter encourages Boards to respond positively to doctors seeking support to undertake “national or regional work for the wider benefit of the public and of health services across England and the devolved administrations”. The letter highlights work for medical royal colleges as one such example.

A copy of the letter is available here. It updates previous guidance published in July 2017.