Limits on NHS agency staff risks patient safety, REC warns

Added restrictions on NHS spending on agency staff could risk patient safety, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has warned.

According to a survey carried out by the REC, 73 per cent of healthcare recruiters said that restrictions of agency spending have made it more difficult to find doctors and nurse willing to fill temporary vacancies.

80 per cent of agencies surveyed said that they are only able to fill half the requests they receive from the NHS, with 35 per cent saying they receive on average more than 100 requests a week from the NHS.

With new spending restrictions set to come into effect from 1 February, recruiters indicated that their readiness to supply staff to the NHS will diminish, with 67 per cent saying that they are planning to engage less with the NHS and instead look to supply more staff to the private market.

Kevin Green, REC chief executive says: “It’s no surprise that fewer skilled doctors and nurses are willing to work for the NHS when their pay has been cut. Meanwhile, the NHS is more reliant than ever on hard working recruiters and the healthcare professionals they supply to maintain safe staffing levels.

“We warned the government that rushing in these caps would exacerbate the staffing crisis faced by the NHS and that is exactly what is happening. Experienced doctors and nurses are choosing to work for private healthcare providers, seeking opportunities abroad, or changing careers altogether to maintain their salary and flexibility.

“We are very concerned about the adverse effects that further spending restrictions will have. We already have a situation where recruiters can’t meet the level of demand from NHS trusts. Ultimately it is patients that will suffer if doctors and nurses aren’t available to fill those vacancies.”