Western Trust paying £77.45 an hour for agency nurse

The sum is the highest rate incurred by the health authority and was paid to an off-framework agency in order to secure critical theatre nurses at weekends.

Details of the trust’s use of agency staff from October 2019 to March 2020 show 31 off-framework agencies were used to provide staff over the period.

Twelve off-framework agencies were used to provide ‘critical staff.’

“We have been advised that the Trust’s A&E department currently use an agency. Theatre and mental health do not use agency at present. The highest hourly rate for this agency is the weekend rate for a specialist nurse (A&E trained) which is £77.45 per hour,” the Trust stated.

The Trust explained off-framework or ‘off-contract’ refers to an agency that is not on the list of contracted suppliers. A procurement process is completed to establish a contracted ‘framework’ list.

The health authority said it is attempting to reduce costs.

“The actions being taken to reduce the expenditure on off-framework agencies include: managing absence; monitoring and managing vacancies; regularly recruitment of registered nurses.

“The Trust also plans to recruit a larger number of the adult nurses who complete their pre-registration training in August/September 2020,” it said.