Clampdown on staffing agencies charging NHS extortionate rates
Health secretary Jeremy Hunt has ordered a clampdown on use of agency staff as part of tough new financial controls to cut down on waste in the NHS.
Tackling staffing agencies is part of a package of measures that will help to cut costs while improving frontline care. This action will help the NHS bring down spiralling agency staff bills, which cost the NHS £3.3bn last year. This was more than the cost of all that year’s 22m A&E admissions combined. Other controls include limiting the use of expensive management consultants.
The NHS is paying agencies up to £3,500 per shift for doctors, and the total bill for management consultants was more than £600m last year. More ....
