I have recently received a number of e-mails about NHS Professionals and EDM 152.
As I’ve mentioned in other campaign responses, I choose not to sign EDMs due to their excessive cost and limited legislative effect. I still feel it best however to respond to the Motion here.
I would like to assure you that the Government’s aim is always to improve patient care. I am sure its actions to reduce agency spend will be focused on that objective, and that every pound of the NHS budget is spent as efficiently as possible. It is integral for the Government to ensure a sustainable plan for healthcare to ensure that patient care and NHS services are not jeopardised.
As I understand, 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. There is a need for NHS Professionals to reduce their reliance on expensive agency staff – the bill for which is £3 billion annually. These funds could be re-diverted and better used for substantive staffing and improving patient care. I was encouraged that agency spend came down by £700 million last year but more can still be done to ensure a sustainable NHS that can provide properly funded care.
I know that 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. Due to the commercially sensitive nature of this process, the Government has stressed that it may not make any specific comment on this issue. Nevertheless, I will continue to follow this matter with interest, and look forward to ensuring that our NHS has the staff that it needs to provide the best possible care.
Thank you once again for contacting me on this important issue.