Locum Doctors and Nurses 2022-03-01
2022-03-01
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from concerns about the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of NHS funding, specifically regarding the percentage of doctors and nurses paid at higher locum rates.
If he will make an estimate of the percentage of (a) doctors and (b) nurses being paid locum rates in the latest week for which figures are available. Can we get greater clarity on that information and have it held centrally, given that wages are such a large proportion of the NHS budget? It is essential to know how many hours are paid at the higher locum rate to ensure value for money for the extra billions of pounds that the Government are putting into the NHS.
In NHS hospital trusts to date in 2021-22, there have been on average 14,826 full-time-equivalent agency nurses and 4,621 medical and dental FTE agency staff. It is hard to draw direct percentage comparisons given different methodologies for measuring such percentages, but my understanding is that overall about 3% of nursing shifts and about 1.5% of doctors' shifts in hospitals are filled by locums or agency staff. We continue to work hard to drive down agency and locum spend, focusing instead on both bank staff and our full-time recruitment.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific percentage estimates and centralised tracking of locum rates were not provided
We Continue To Work Hard
My Understanding Is That Overall About 3%
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The question follows an earlier inquiry on the percentage of NHS staff paid at higher locum rates, with a focus on ensuring value for money in relation to government funding.
Can we get greater clarity on that information and have it held centrally, given that wages are such a large proportion of the NHS budget? It is essential to know how many hours are paid at the higher locum rate to ensure value for money for the extra billions of pounds that the Government are putting into the NHS.
I am grateful to my right hon. Friend, who is tireless in her determination to ensure value for money for her and all of our taxpayers' pounds, particularly in this space. We continue to work hard to drive down agency and locum spend, focusing instead on both bank staff and our full-time recruitment, on which the Secretary of State has set out the success that we have been having. Since 2015, we have controlled agency spend through price caps and procurement frameworks.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific percentage estimates and centralised tracking were not provided
We Continue To Work Hard
Controlled Agency Spend Through Price Caps
Response accuracy