Temporary nurses overworked by health service

Thu, 07 Jun 2007

According to a committee of MPs, the extent to which the National Health Service is reliant on temporary staff is becoming a concern. Temporary nurses, who are brought in to handle short-staffing and to cover for vacations and absences, may be being used excessively.

Like private hospitals for those who opt to pay of have private medical insurance, NHS hospitals need a reserve of temporary staff to make sure they meet healthcare demands. These nurses play a vital role, but they can be pricey. According to a recent study by the Public Account Committee, they could also have a negative influence on the level of patient care and satisfaction.

Concerns also exist over employment of temporary staff who have not undergone sufficient training. Despite growth in the NHS workplace, the need for temporary staff remains high.

The chairman of PAC, Sir Edward Leigh, reportedly commented: "By calling on temporary nursing staff, hospitals can respond flexibly to short-term peaks in demand and staff vacancies and absences. What is worrying is that, in practice, both the use of temporary nurses by the NHS and spending on them are still running at very high levels. And it has taken the current financial situation in the NHS to get managers in trusts to face up to this problem.
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