Let the Speak Up review of temporary workers serve as a wake up call for the NHS - REC

Responding to the publication today of the National Guardian’s Speak Up Review into experiences of temporary workers in the NHS, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation’s Director of Campaigns Shazia Ejaz said:

“The NHS must better understand its large, skilled and committed temporary workforce – the very people it is relying on to keep wards open, keep appointments running and keep patients safe. A sensible next step is to include agency workers in the annual NHS Staff Survey.

“The National Guardian is right to call for the NHS to work more closely with healthcare staffing agencies. This is because nurses, doctors and patients want greater confidence that the NHS can achieve joined-up workforce planning.

“The report shows that many temporary NHS workers feel undervalued, unsupported and uncertain about their job security, issues made worse by poor integration and team inclusion. This is a major criticism of the NHS given the increasing demand from healthcare workers to work flexibility. It is vital that national bodies and the NHS work together to give temporary workers a stronger voice. Government anti‑agency rhetoric has only undermined efforts to build an inclusive culture: this report is a clear reminder that such rhetoric must end.

“We want to collaborate directly with the NHS, National Guardian’s Office and national representative bodies. The REC supports the recommendations in the review and will help member recruitment businesses to support measures, statutory or non-statutory, offered by trusts to ensure temporary workers have the right to speak up.”

Notes to editors

1.     National Guardian’s Speak Up Review into experiences of temporary workers in the NHS, key findings – more here.

2.     REC Code of Conduct encourages its members and their candidates to be honest, respect others, act with integrity and be socially responsible. REC requires that every member agency must have a complaints policy and procedure in place. This enables agency workers to raise concerns to them about a placement in confidence.

3.     As one of the biggest employers of black and ethnic minority staff in Europe and with evidence that discrimination is stopping temporary staff from speaking up about patient safety, today’s National Guardian’s report shows it is vital that national bodies and the NHS work together to give temporary workers a stronger voice.

4.     Discrimination against temporary staff endangering patient safety, September 2024.  A report from the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) has revealed that patient safety is being impacted by widespread discrimination against temporary NHS staff which stops them speaking up. This experience is only amplified for those from ethnic minority backgrounds – the NHS Race and Health Observatory told the 2024 investigation that those from the aforementioned descent are reluctant to speak up because they are more likely to suffer ‘harsher consequences’ if they do – this was also described by the National Guardian’s Office.