EDM 152 - NHS Professionals

NHS Professionals is the largest single supplier of flexible staffing to the NHS, and enables the NHS to maintain a flexible workforce, with adequate supplies of temporary staff which can meet the shifting needs of the health service.

The Government wants to maintain a healthy supply of permanent and flexible labour to the NHS, which will tackle agency staffing costs, and ensure maximum value for the taxpayer, and it is encouraging that agency spend came down by £700 million last year. NHS Professionals helps by saving £70 million a year through supplying staff to hospitals at more affordable rates. 

Due to the commercially sensitive nature of this process, the Government will not make any specific comment on this issue. However I will continue to follow this matter with interest, and seek assurances that our NHS has the staff that it needs to provide the best possible care.