The Royal College of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (RCOG) and the National Health Service (NHS) have recently developed new guidance for the engagement of short-term Middle Grade O&G locum doctors in maternity care settings. This guidance will be implemented starting on February 1st, 2023 and requires that all locum doctors working as Middle Grade O&G, in positions of 2 weeks or less and who are not on the General Medical Council (GMC) Specialist Register, to have a Certificate of Eligibility.
This certificate can be obtained by submitting evidence to the Royal College. This means that any Middle Grade locum O&G doctor booked from February 1st, 2023, for 2 weeks or less, who is not on the Specialist Register, must have a Certificate of Eligibility that would form part of their compliance file and would be submitted to Trusts when going forward for work, via agency, bank or directly.
Full details of the certificate and guidance can be found on the RCOG website here: https://www.rcog.org.uk/media/tyrb4dfr/rcog-guidance-on-engagement-of-short-term-locums-in-maternity-care-august-2022.pdf
Agencies, Banks and Trusts will be able to confirm that a doctor holds a Certificate of Eligibility using the following link: https://cel.rcog.org.uk/