NHS launches new framework to cut agency staff spend
A new National Clinical Staffing framework is to be implemented to help NHS organisations comply with NHS Improvement's caps on agency staff pay and charge rates, in a bid to rein in agency staffing costs, which have risen to around £3.3bn per annum. The framework, which will replace the current one that expires next month, will run for two years and will provide access to audited agencies that meet the criteria for a cost-effective, compliant supply of quality staff within the rate caps. It will also be used to help with recruitment for permanent roles.

NHS launches National Clinical Staffing Framework

The NHS now has access to the first National Clinical Staffing framework to facilitate compliance with NHS Improvement’s caps on agency staffing pay and charge rates.

Developed by the NHS Collaborative Procurement Partnership, the framework gives NHS organisations access to agencies which have been fully and independently audited, and which met the criteria for the cost-effective, compliant supply of quality staff within the rate caps.

The framework also facilitates the recruitment of staff to permanent positions, helping to tackle high agency staffing costs which have increased to around £3.3 billion per year.

The new framework replaces the first national NHS framework for the supply of nursing and nursing-related staff which expires in September 2016.

Alyson Brett, chief executive of NHS Commercial Solutions and sponsor of the new framework, said: “The NHS needs a fully comprehensive clinical staffing framework which supports it to manage temporary staffing costs. Above all, trusts need to be confident that they are employing high quality agency staff who will provide the best care for patients. This framework does just that.

“In addition this is an NHS-built solution for the NHS. No element of the expenditure on agency staffing which goes through this framework ends up in private sector shareholder pockets, but is reinvested in the NHS.”

The framework, which went live on 8 August, will run for two years.