08 June 2007
Spending on temporary nurses in the NHS is continuing to rise in spite of an increase in permanent staff coming onstream, the Commons Public Accounts Committee says.
In a report published on June 7, Improving the use of temporary nursing staff in NHS acute and foundation trusts, the MPs say that in spite of the fact that the permanent nursing workforce increased by 55,000 (20%) between 2000 and 2005, there has been no saving in temporary staff.
Over the same period, expenditure on temporary nursing, including agency staff, rose from £795m in 1999/2000 to £1,098m in 2004/05, according to Department of Health estimates.
PAC chair Edward Leigh said: 'Most trusts are failing to plan for and manage their demand for temporary nursing staff. Too many do not have the management information they need to employ temporary staff cost-effectively.'
Too many trusts were relying on temporary nurses to mask their inability to manage permanent staff properly, he added.
'This is not simply a point about wasting money. The use of temporary nurses might be compromising patient safety. At least 39% of temporary staff are not receiving supposedly mandatory basic life support training.'
PFjun2007
