NHS Professionals (Hansard, 12 March 2002)

§ Dr. Evan Harris
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what measures are in place to monitor the performance of NHS professionals; [30768]
1034W
(2) if he will list the performance targets that have been set for NHS professionals; [30770]

§ Mr. Heald
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) by what means he intends to(a) monitor and (b)) improve the efficiency of NHS professionals; [37374]
(2) whether the Commission for Health Improvement will be able to inspect and report on the work of NHS professionals. [37373]

§ Mr. Hutton
I apologise to the hon. Members for the delay in responding to these questions. I refer the hon. Members to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002,Official Report, column 192W.
A national project board with representatives from the NHS and Department of Health is responsible for the extension and development of NHS professionals, including national monitoring and performance of NHS professionals providers. Regional project boards closely manage the development across regions. Also each site has its own project structure to manage and monitor implementation.
A Code of Practice is being developed to provide a framework for the management of temporary staff to the NHS, including NHS professionals.
The functions of the Commission for Health Improvement will cover NHS professionals.
Dr. Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what protections are contained within NHS Professionals to ensure nurses do not exceed the 48 hour work week. [30766]

§ Mr. Hutton
I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer him to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002, column 192W.
Health service circular 2001–002 and the guidance NHS Professionals—"A co-ordinated, NHS-led approach to temporary staffing" sets out national standards for good employment practice in the management of temporary staffing. This includes using the best of modern information technology and call centre technology within agreed national frameworks for terms and conditions of service, delivering high quality patient care through clinical governance.
NHS Professionals uses software that automatically flags up any shift in which an individual could exceed a 48-hour working week, and this is then raised with the individual.
Details of any current existing working arrangements are discussed during recruitment and the individual has a responsibility to inform NHS Professionals of any changes to these working hours.
Also, nurses working periods between rest periods are monitored to ensure that they are getting enough rest between shifts and that their total hours worked are satisfactory. These measures safeguard both the staff and their patients.
1035W

§ Dr. Evan Harris
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses working through NHS Professionals in the week ending 19 January were in receipt of premium payments. [30773]

§ Mr. Hutton
I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer him to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002,Official Report, column 192W).
The information requested is not held centrally.

§ Mr. Heald
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that the costs of(a) timesheet processing and (b payroll functions of NHS Professionals are identified and reported. [41728]

§ Mr. Hutton
I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer him to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002,Official Report, column 192W.
HSC 2001–002 and guidance NHS Professionals—"A co-ordinated, NHS-led approach to temporary staffing" sets out national NHS Professionals standards for good employment practice, including provision for weekly payment upon submission of completed and authorised timesheets.
Local, regional and national project boards are in place to monitor the implementation of NHS Professionals to meet the required standards.