Press release: NHS Confederation responds to audit commission report
05 Sep 2001
Responding to the Audit Commission report 'Brief Encounters - Getting the best from temporary nursing staff' Stephen Thornton, chief executive of the NHS Confederation said that the Confederation recognised the issues raised by the report and supported the recommendations of the Audit Commission.
"Although bank and agency staff make an enormous contribution to the health service NHS trusts would, without doubt, prefer not to have to rely so much on temporary staff. But there is currently a national shortage of nurses and in such circumstances extensive use of temporary staff is inevitable.
However we recognise the vital importance of maintaining quality standards and of the proper management of the temporary staffing process.
As the Audit Commission recognises, the best way to address the issue is to reduce the demand for temporary staffing. However, that will only happen when the staffing situation improves.
The position on nurse recruitment is getting better, albeit slowly, and the additional nurses agreed by the Government will ease the situation. Trusts are also making real efforts through the Improving Working Lives programme and opportunities for flexible working to make permanent NHS employment a more attractive option for nurses.
At the same the Department of Health's NHS Professionals is a very welcome development. It will provide a co-ordinated NHS-based approach to temporary staffing that should benefit patients, staff and NHS organisations alike. The guidance from the Department of Health to be published this week will be useful for the service in taking forward NHS Professionals and thereby improving the management of temporary staffing."
Ends
Notes for editors
- The NHS Confederation is the voice of NHS management. Our members include the majority of NHS trusts, primary care trusts and health authorities in England; trusts, health authorities and local health groups in Wales; trusts and health boards in Scotland; and health and social services trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.
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