§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he has any information concerning the total cost each year of agency personnel used in each regional health authority to fill vacant administrative posts; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what information he has concerning the cost to the National Health Service of using administrative and secretarial staff from agencies compared with the cost of fully employing such staff;
(3) if he will estimate the total annual additional cost to the National Health Service of using agency staff to fill vacant clerical, secretarial and administrative posts.
§ Mr. NewtonThe table shows the information that is available for expenditure on agency staff employed on administrative, secretarial and clerical work in the National Health Service in England for the year 1986–87. Details of the individual administrative and clerical posts covered by agency staff are not available centrally.
nurse banks are being established. The recommendations of the independent pay review body and the new grading structure are expected to assist recruitment and retention of nursing and midwifery staff, and thus reduce reliance on agency staff.
Within the medical and dental staff group I am aware of health authorities' concern about the cost of M and D staff engaged through commercial agencies and officials are currently considering this issue with representatives of NHS management.