NHS agency spending cap could ‘save £1bn’

The government has unveiled details on how it plans to save the NHS £1bn on agency staff costs over the next three years.

Spending will be capped and from April 2016, NHS trusts in England will not be permitted to pay over the shift rate plus 55%, to reflect the cost of administration and National Insurance contributions, to agencies.

NHS finances are facing increasing pressure. In the last three months, trusts overspent by £930m, one of the most significant costs being the amount spent on agency staff.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, said “For too long, staffing agencies have been able to rip off the NHS by charging extortionate hourly rates which cost billions of pounds a year and undermine staff working hard to deliver high-quality care.

“The tough new controls on spending that we’re putting in place will help the NHS improve continuity of care for patients and invest in the front line – while putting an end to the days of unscrupulous companies charging up to £3,500 a shift for a doctor.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk ), Medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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