Press Release

NHS Employers pledges support to help reduce costs of temporary nurses

12 July 2006

NHS Employers has today welcomed the National Audit Office (NAO) report on managing temporary nursing staff costs.

Sian Thomas, deputy director at NHS Employers, said: “Helping NHS trusts to better manage their temporary staffing is one of our key priorities. Trusts have made huge strides over the past few years in reducing spending on temporary nursing staff. That is on top of dealing with one of the most radical and complex changes in workforce arrangements that the NHS has ever seen. Indeed, some trusts will look at the NAO recommendations and say that they are already carrying them out.

“However, we know more can still be done and that some trusts are better than others. NHS Employers has already identified the management of temporary staffing as a priority work area. Last month, NHS Employers published a briefing to trusts advising them on what they can do to better manage temporary staffing. And this week we have launched a new programme to help individual trusts look at how they manage their temporary staffing and support them in making improvements.

“We fully endorse the recommendations in the NAO report and look forward to working with trusts and helping them to implement them.

“Where employers have implemented good practice on temporary staffing, they have not only improved the safety and quality of care for patients, but they have also saved money. It’s a win, win situation.”

NHS Employers will be carrying out the following work as set out in the NAO report:

• developing a database of good practice on our website
• developing a new code of practice on what checks trusts need to carry out on temporary staff
• exploring electronic roster systems to seek best products and best deals and which integrate with the electronic staff record.
• working with NHS Professionals to ensure its business plan and pricing strategy reflects trusts’ expectations

In its briefing, Managing the costs of temporary staffing, NHS Employers advises trusts to:

• Agree a strategic plan for the optimum use of temporary staff
• Agree local accountability arrangements
• Decide the format for internal management information reporting and include compliance with agency framework agreements
• Benchmark total spend and use with other trusts
• Consider implementing a rostering and agency invoice monitoring system
• Audit quality standards in locum use against NHS Professionals’ standards.