Govt quietly privatises NHS recruitment

21 November 2016

The government has announced the privatisation of the single largest provider of bank NHS staff.

In a statement last week (17 November 2016), Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health Lord Prior said that the government would put to tender NHS Professionals Limited – a publically-owned company that currently provides 90,000 workers to 55 NHS Trusts.

“The Department will sell a majority shareholding so that the Company is run and controlled by the new partner, which will carry the majority of the finance and operating risks of the business,” he said. The government will remain a minority shareholder.

NHS Professionals Limited works with around a quarter of NHS Trusts to provide temporary staffing at lower rates than those taking on through private recruitment agencies.

The state-controlled organisation currently saves the NHS around £70 million a year, and the government has argued it will extend this benefit across the nation by making the agency profit-driven too.

Shadow Minister for Health Justin Madders said this line of reasoning “beggar’s belief”.