Supply of NHS staff ‘not meeting demand’, MPs warn

Staffing gaps in the NHS workforce suggest that the supply of staff is ‘not meeting demand’, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has warned.

A report from the PAC has cautioned that undersupply of staff ‘inhibits trusts’ ability to provide services efficiently and effectively’, leading to longer waiting times and a reduction in the quality of care.

According to the report, NHS trusts have focussed on reducing staffing costs to meet efficiency targets, which has led them to consistently understate the true number of staff they need. In order to fill the resulting gaps, the committee says trusts are using more costly agency staff, which has increased financial pressures on the health service.

The PAC criticised the Department of Health for providing ‘ineffective leadership and support’ in how to balance safe staffing levels with efficiency savings and concluded that ‘national bodies need to get a better grip on the supply of clinical staff in order to address current and future workforce pressures’.

Meg Hillier, chair of the PAC, said: "There are serious flaws in the government's approach to staffing the NHS and without urgent action the public will pay for it on multiple fronts. Frontline staff such as doctors and nurses are the lifeblood of the service, yet the supply of these staff in England is not keeping pace with demand.

“This poor workforce planning means patients face the possibility of longer waiting times and a greater cost to the public purse. It is unacceptable for the government to blame staffing agencies for the growth in spending in this area when its own mismanagement is a major contributor to the size of the bills.

“At the same time, taxpayers are being asked to accept uncosted plans for a 7-day NHS—plans which therefore present a further serious risk to public money.”