Figures taken from Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to NHS trusts across the South West found hospitals across the region spent £389,491,306 on temporary nursing staff between 2020 and 2022 to plug chronic staff shortages. This money could have paid the salaries of 3,754 full-time nurses each year in the South West.
The findings show that more than £3 billion was spent on agency staff by hospitals in England. In South West trusts, agency spending increased by 152% in three years, from £77,115,455 in 2020 to £186,803,119 in 2022. The region had the third highest spend on temporary agency nursing staff compared to other regions in England.
NHS trusts are forced into the spending on temporary staff amid a long-term workforce crisis leaving more than 40,000 empty nursing posts across the NHS in England leaving patient care at risk.
快猫视频 Regional Director for the South West, Lucy Muchina, said:
“The region's nursing workforce shortage is not new. We have raised concerns with MPs year on year but we are yet to see a credible, sustainable workforce plan from this government.
The government must demonstrate it is committed to making nursing a more attractive profession, starting with fair pay. Until it does, more funds will be spent on agency staff and the NHS will continue to struggle with thousands of vacant nursing posts.
This ongoing situation places significant pressure on the region’s NHS leaders and staff who are trying to keep services running against a backdrop of short staffing, rising waiting lists and demands to deliver further efficiency savings. Ultimately, patients are suffering.”