Arthur Hughes

“The appointment of locum staff is a necessary requirement within the Health Board to provide continuity of service and the recruitment process in relation to locums ensures that they have the appropriate qualifications to undertake the roles for which they are appointed, However, there does not appear to a recognised protocol or policy by which their work is initially observed, assessed or evaluated in practice, with the result that locum staff could be required to undertake tasks or roles which”

“evidence provided at the inquest appears to indicate that there is a marked reluctance at a managerial level for references to be supplemented by telephone calls to the referees”

“In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and | believe you have the power to take such action”