Is NHS being overcharged by agencies - or are staff shortages the real issue? Jeremy Hunt is trying to cut the NHS’s bill for temporary staff by introducing curbs on employment agencies, but is he missing the point?
The health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has announced he is to introduce curbs on the use of employment agencies in the National Health Service as bills for temporary staff soar. But are the high rates charged by agencies the problem – or is the demand for temporary staff caused by staff shortages the real issue?
What has Jeremy Hunt said?
We're cracking down on rip-off agency fees & use of management consultants in the NHS: every £ possible must go on direct patient care.
A round up of the quarterly performance of foundation trusts for year ending March 2015: http://t.co/5TK7Yme4tC. #NHS pic.twitter.com/r5hJpEDQCC
We need to address the root causes of the recruitment and retention problem in many parts of the NHS, especially emergency medicine.
A lack of investment in nurse training and cuts to nurse numbers mean that trusts now have no choice but to pay over the odds for agency staff and recruiting overseas.
The NHS is not getting good press. There’s a culture of blame and it is putting a lot of pressure on staff.
If the government is serious about breaking the hold staffing agencies have over the NHS, then ministers need to recruit more nurses and increase training places immediately. Continue reading... The Guardian
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