EDM 152 concerning NHS Professionals

A number of my constituents have contacted me about the EDM 152 concerning NHS Professionals.

NHS Professionals is the largest single supplier of flexible staffing to the NHS. I believe that the NHS should 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; it is important to note that agency spend came down by £700 million last year.

The Government’s aim is to improve patient care. Its actions to reduce agency spend will be focused on that objective, and that every pound of the NHS budget is spend as efficiently as possible. 

Due to the commercially sensitive nature of this process, the Government will not yet make any specific comment on this issue. However, I have sought further information from the Department of Health and will write an update as soon as I receive a response from them.