Use Locum Consultants and Save Money, HCL Tells NHS
Employing locum consultants to meet patient demand in hospitals would cost the NHS less than paying overtime to substantive locums, according to HCL, one of Europe’s leading health and social care staffing companies.
(PRWeb UK) January 14, 2011
Employing locum consultants to meet patient demand in hospitals would cost the NHS less than paying overtime to substantive locums, according to HCL, one of Europe’s leading health and social care staffing companies.
HCL was responding to a report by the BBC which stated that some consultants are making more than £100,000 a year in overtime payments, at a time when the NHS has been tasked with achieving significant cost savings.
The BBC report found that some overtime rates total about £600 for four hours, or £150 per hour. HCL pointed out that most medical recruitment agencies would charge significantly less than this, making locum consultants cheaper per hour to employ than full time consultants working overtime.
HCL added that there were other advantages to bringing in locum consultants to deal with peaks in demand in hospitals. The flexible nature of their employment contracts means that they are only paid for the hours they are actually working, and do not incur “hidden costs” such as NHS employer pension contributions. Furthermore they alleviate the workload placed on full time consultants, thus reducing the potential risk of tiredness and stress, which can both have adverse effects on the care given to patients.
Kate Bleasdale, Executive Vice Chairman of HCL, commented:
"The size and frequency of these overtime payments would seem to point to a shortage of consultants to meet peaks in demand in acute care settings. Rather than overburdening already busy consultants – and the NHS’s finances - with overtime, the obvious solution is to make greater use of flexible locum consultants to support the workforce during periods of high demand. Not only does it cost the NHS less, hour for hour, but it also prevents full time consultants from becoming overworked, which could compromise patient care.”
Contact:
Helen Tarbet
Helen(dot)tarbet(at)hclplc(dot)com
020 7451 1451
About HCL plc
HCL plc is a leading global recruitment and staffing agency for all healthcare and social care staff including doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and qualified social workers. Headquartered in London, the company has operations across the world, and large offices in Australia, North America and India. HCL plc was listed on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange in 2005 (AIM: HLO).
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