Hiring in healthcare and the vaccine: 4 things you need to know

Britain’s Covid-19 vaccine rollout has been among the fastest and arguably most effective in the world, with almost nine in 10 of UK citizens over the age of 12 having received their first jab by December 2021. 

Although the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases remained high in the country as 2021 approached its end, the link from cases to hospitalisations and deaths had been significantly weakened. When key healthcare workers became among the first people in the UK to receive the jabs in early 2021, it helped ease strains on hiring in the healthcare sector.  

The vaccine has had and continues to have a range of impacts on hiring in the UK healthcare sector however – here are four key things you should know:  

The vaccine has made it easier to hire for private nurses and carers 

Alice Cartwright, Senior Consultant at Michael Page Healthcare, said that reassuring medical staff in the private sector that employment environments such as nursing homes were safe to work in was a huge challenge for employers. 

Throughout January and February 2021, as these workers became vaccinated, such concerns lessened and hiring became more straightforward. However, as the pandemic eased, clear communication around Covid-19 protocols remained important to healthcare candidates when they considered new position offers. 

However, that time period threw up a somewhat unexpected workforce management challenge in many private hospitals and other healthcare organisations. Cartwright said that many healthcare managers had to deal with immediate vaccine side-effects upturning their work rotas. “There were swathes of workers booking shifts the day after their vaccination, then having to call in sick,” she said. 

The pandemic has resulted in huge backlogs 

At the end of 2021, non-Covid medical treatment backlogs remain significant in both the NHS and private UK healthcare institutions. Sajid Javid, the Health and Social Care Secretary, has warned that the number of patients waiting for non-urgent NHS treatment could pass six million by the start of 2022. 

However, the reduced number of hospitalisations in 2021 at least partly quelled the burnout that so many healthcare workers were feeling, and which had led many to consider leaving the profession. 

Vaccine mandates may impact hiring in healthcare 

On 11 November 2021 it became compulsory for staff working in adult care homes to be vaccinated for Covid-19. The NHS has also made it compulsory for frontline staff in England to be vaccinated by April 2022. 

Beyond care homes for the elderly, private medical institutions are not as yet compelled to issue vaccine mandates to staff. While most private healthcare businesses have not demanded proof of Covid vaccination from staff, many have implemented regular Covid-19 testing for them. “The staff have tended to be happy with that arrangement,” said Cartwright. 

As has been the case for the UK population, most medical workers in the UK have been keen to be vaccinated as soon as possible. However, there has been vaccine hesitancy in medical professions. This has been noted among some healthcare assistant workers, adding a further challenge to hiring from this already-thinning talent pool. 

Employers need to communicate carefully to hire successfully 

So how are employers in the healthcare sector navigating these issues when hiring? Cartwright advised private healthcare companies to diplomatically address the issue of vaccination among staff. There have been anecdotal reports of private hospitals demanding staff be vaccinated, which raises the spectre of legal concerns over unofficial mandates. 

“Employers need to be careful how they ask about candidates’ vaccination status,” Cartwright said. “It's necessary due diligence, but people can get defensive if they don't want the vaccine.” 

With Britain’s vaccine booster jab programme rolling out quickly, there are hopes that the Covid-tough cold season many health experts feared may not materialise. If this turns out to be the case, recruitment pressures could ease on this in this highly scrutinised field. 

At Michael Page Healthcare our expert consultants help leading healthcare organisations and professionals navigate all these issues and more. If you are looking to hire top talent or find an exciting new role, you can schedule an introductory call with an expert.