HC Deb 12 June 2002 vol 386 cc1316-7W
Mr. Lyons

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in reducing the use of bank staff within the NHS. [59185]

Mr. Hutton

Our strategy in relation to temporary staffing isTo reduce the overall demand for temporary staff by expanding the national health service permanent workforce. To improve the management and cost-effectiveness of NHS 'bank' arrangements through the NHS Professionals initiative. NHS Professionals is being implemented against a target to operate nationally for all staff groups by April 2003, around 50 trusts are already using the service. To improve the cost-effectiveness and quality of temporary staff supplied by commercial agencies through co-ordinated contracts negotiated with a range of agencies that have been vetted using quality, risk and value for money criteria.

Between September 1999 and September 2001 there was a net increase of nurses working in the NHS of 20,740 a 4 per cent. increase in number of qualified allied health professionals 5.7 per cent. more NHS consultants—the second largest increase on record and overall the NHS workforce increased by 4.3 per cent. to 1,1666,000.

Building on the success of the London Agency Project, further agency framework agreements are being developed across the NHS.