29.06.15
Don’t let NHS staff work for external agencies, says NHS Professionals
One way to reduce agency spending is for the NHS to work collectively to stamp out practices such as allowing staff to work through external staffing agencies, rather than the trust’s own bank, NHE has been told.
“Indeed without effective nationally negotiated frameworks, unscrupulous agencies will continue to get away with ripping off the NHS.”
He added that as a non-agency organisation that is part of the NHS, NHS Professionals provides services to 60 trusts nationwide, helping them manage their flexible workforce costs effectively.
“But simply looking at savings isn’t enough – we need to go further,” said Dangerfield. “One way to reduce agency spend is for the NHS to work collectively to stamp out practices such as allowing staff to work through external staffing agencies rather than the trust’s own bank.”
Monitor is to run an initial three-month trial at three foundation trusts, providing support such as action planning that will help foundation trusts deliver savings, and a diagnostic tool that will identify weaknesses in how trusts are managing their staffing.
Kate Shoesmith, head of policy at Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), which provides specialist support and advice to agencies who work across the health and social care sector, said that the organisation had been in touch with Monitor to stress that the expert panel and proposed three-month trials must factor in the experience that recruitment agencies have in bidding for and supplying via on- and off-framework arrangements.
“Agency staff are helping trusts maintain safe staffing levels and keep the lights on in wards around the country,” she said, adding: “These agencies are not ‘ripping off’ the NHS. The majority of NHS trusts manage their agency spend through framework agreements which already cap prices. Rates are negotiated by central government and recruitment agencies must adhere to them.
“Pay will vary depending on experience and skills but generally speaking a Band 5 agency nurse will earn £20-£25 per hour and an agency will charge a fee to the trust of between 10-20% to cover the costs of finding, vetting and supplying the skilled nurses they need.”
REC added that many agency nurses have previously had long careers as NHS employees but because of “pay freezes, poor management and inflexible schedules” have decided it suits them better to seek work via staffing agencies who can help them find shifts that fit round their family schedules and allow them to work where and when they choose.
“The choice to go off-framework and pay more than these set rates is made by the trust, not the agency, and is usually in circumstances of dire and urgent need,” said Shoesmith.