§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria are used to judge the suitability of nursing staff agencies to provide nurses for NHS establishments. [59429]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 24 May 2002]: Under the Nurses Act 1957, agencies providing nursing staff for national health service establishments are currently licensed by local authorities. From 1 September, they will be subject to regulation by the National Care Standards Commission, from which date the nurses agency regulations and national minimum standards made under the Care Standards Act 2000 are due to come into force.
Following the success of the London agency project, NHS trusts are working together to improve the cost-effectiveness and quality of temporary staff supplied by commercial agencies through agency framework agreements negotiated with a range of agencies that have been vetted using quality, risk and value for money criteria.