Tag: national audit office

The NHS requires an additional 50,000 clinical staff to ensure high-quality and safe healthcare, according to the National Audit Office (NAO). Instead of recruiting long-term replacements for these vacancies, many NHS trusts are using temporary agency staff to fill gaps in rotas. Spending on agency staff increased from £2.2bn to £3.3bn between 2009/10 and 2014/15. Amyas Morse, head of the NAO, said: "These shortcomings are serious and the current arrangements do not achieve value for money." Reasons for the staffing shortfall vary by region, but the NAO highlighted the following: Lack of proactive planning in addressing staffing needs across the country Too little use of overseas recruitment Too few staff using return-to-practise initiatives Tighter immigration rules