§ Lord Howie of Troonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 21 June (WA 105), whether they will provide a detailed breakdown of the 7 per cent charged to National Health Service trusts by National Health Service Professionals in relation to on-costs in the supply of temporary nurses; and whether any additional fees are levied at any point of National Health Service Professionals' relationship with a National Health Service Trust, in particular management set up charges; and [HL3932]
What proportion of vacancies for temporary nurses is: (a) filled by National Health Service Professionals using (i) National Health Service Professionals' own resources; and (ii) external private sector nursing agencies; and (b) left unfilled; and [HL3933]
How much National Health Service Professionals charges National Health Service Trusts for the supply of temporary nurses sourced from external private sector nursing agencies; and what proportion of those charges is (a) paid to the external private 142WA sector nursing agency; and (b) kept by National Health Service Professionals; and [HL3934]
What changes will be made to the charges National Health Service Professionals make to National Health Service Trusts for the supply of temporary nurses following the introduction of the new Agenda for Change pay system. [HL3935]
§ Lord WarnerThe information is not available centrally. We are informed by NHS Professionals that the 7 per cent on costs relates to national insurance contributions and superannuation but it is not possible to break this down further.
On average NHS Professionals is able to fill around 90 per cent of vacancies. Of these, 70 per cent are filled through NHS Professionals, 20 per cent through preferred agencies nominated by NHS Trusts and using Agency Framework Agreements and 10 per cent remain unfilled, although there is some regional variation in fill rates.
The private sector nursing agency receives the invoiced cost of placement. In almost every case, NHS Professionals does not levy an additional service charge to recover the costs of placement.
NHS Professionals will review the rates paid to temporary workers to take account of the Agenda for Change pay structure and will work with NHS Trusts to assess the impact that this will have.