As reported by Wired.gov, NHS patients and staff are benefiting from nearly £1 billion in savings, following a government crackdown on costly temporary staffing agencies
The initiative, led by Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting, introduced strict agency spending limits last November and directed NHS trusts to cut their reliance on agency staff by 30% in the short term.
New data shows that agency spending in 2024/25 has already dropped by almost £1 billion. These savings are being redirected into frontline services—helping to reduce waiting lists, enhance patient care and improve safety, as lower dependency on temporary staff is linked to fewer clinical incidents.
The reforms are part of a broader government strategy that has made it possible to fully fund above-inflation pay rises for all NHS staff, including resident doctors and nurses, this year.
Today, Streeting and NHS England Chief Executive Jim Mackey have written to all NHS trusts and integrated care boards (ICBs), urging them to build on these results and work towards eliminating agency spend entirely. The government has warned that if further progress is not made by autumn, it may consider legislative action.
In 2023/24, NHS agency spending reached a staggering £3 billion, with some recruitment agencies charging up to £2,000 for a single nursing shift – costs driven in part by the 113,000 staffing vacancies across the health service.
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