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<p>The Department has not published guidelines on ensuring excemptions for female
healthcare professionals returning from maternity leave. However, the Department commissions
NHS Employers to work with colleagues on the NHS Staff Council<sup>1</sup> to ensure
National Health Service terms and conditions of service are up to date and fit for
purpose, Section 15 covering “maternity leave and pay”. This section includes ‘health
and safety of employees: pre and post birth’ which reflects the need for employers
to consider exemptions.</p><p> </p><p>The relevant section of the NHS terms and conditions
of service handbook can be found at:</p><p><a href="http://www.nhsemployers.org/tchandbook"
target="_blank">http://www.nhsemployers.org/tchandbook</a></p><p> </p><p>Note:</p><p><sup>1</sup>
The national NHS Staff Council has overall responsibility for the Agenda for Change
pay system and has representatives from both employers and trade unions.Its remit
includes: maintaining the Agenda for Change pay system, for staff on Agenda for Change
and reflecting these in the NHS terms and conditions of service handbook and providing
national support on interpreting the national agreement for employers and trade unions.
The NHS terms and conditions of service handbook can be accessed at the following
link: <a href="http://www.nhsemployers.org/tchandbook" target="_blank">http://www.nhsemployers.org/tchandbook</a></p>
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