NHSI Right to Step Back from New Ban on Agency Staff - REC

 

In a letter sent to NHS trust leaders this morning NHS Improvement (NHSI) has announcedit is pausing until further notice its plans to ban trusts from using agencystaff who also hold substantive roles in the NHS. The new restriction was dueto come into effect tomorrow, Saturday 1 April. Commenting, Recruitment &Employment Confederation (REC) chief executive Kevin Green says:

 

 “Weare delighted NHSI have seen sense and stepped back from this hastily proposedban which risked throwing the NHS into chaos.

 

“It’sthe right thing to pause and think again having listened to the feedback from us,our members and other stakeholders like the RCN, and to the voices of all thenurses and doctors who work so hard in the NHS, no matter what their employmentstatus.

 

“Weare committed to working with NHSI to help develop flexible staffing models forthe NHS that ensure safety and sustainability for patients and workforce alike.”

 

TheREC held two meetings with NHS Improvement over the past month to discuss theproposed ban, including one with over 40 representatives from REC memberagencies who work in the sector, and wrote to the NHSI Agency Intelligence teamcalling for them to delay the introduction of this new ban.

 

Ends