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‘Decision to stall proposals to ban trusts hiring agency staff welcomed by RCM’

By RCM on 31 March 2017 Midwife Shortage Trade Unions Agency Staff NHS

NHS Improvement has today ‘delayed until further notice’ new rules on employing agency staff.

The new rules announced in February to prevent  trusts  using agency staff who were also employed by the NHS have now been postponed.

NHS Improvement have written to all trusts in England today to confirm that they will pause until further notice the new rules which where due to come into force from tomorrow (April 1st) .

Responding to the announcement, Jon Skewes Director of Policy, Employment Relations and Communications at the RCM says; “The RCM very much welcomes the announcement made by NHS Improvement today. This postponement is testament to the swift and strong response to this proposal from the RCM and other NHS trade unions working through the NHS staff council.

“The RCM believes that the motivation to reduce agency spending is the right one; but high agency spending is a symptom of the problem of staffing shortages and the sustainable way to reduce agency spending is to hire more midwives

“The proposals were ill thought out and were likely to cause unintended consequences including causing significant safety implications so we welcome the announcement to withdraw the proposals.

“However, the RCM believes that the most sustainable way to reduce agency spending is to address staffing shortages and permanently employ the correct number of midwives and we welcome all opportunities to work with NHS Improvement on this.”

To contact the RCM Press Office call 020 7312 3456 or email pressofficer@rcm.org.uk.

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Notes to editors

The RCM is the only trade union and professional association dedicated to serving midwifery and the whole midwifery team. We provide workplace advice and support, professional and clinical guidance and information, and learning opportunities with our broad range of events, conferences and online resources. For more information visit the RCM website at https://www.rcm.org.uk/.

 

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