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NHS Scotland Workforce Information
Agency and Bank Nursing
This section provides information on both agency and bank nursing and midwifery workforce in NHS Scotland. The agency nursing and midwifery figures are sourced from the agency data collection (ISD(M)18). Bank nursing and midwifery figures are sourced from Scottish Workforce Information Standard System (SWISS). These describe the number of staff assimilated to Agenda for Change nursing and midwifery job family. Those staff not yet assimilated but where a nursing and midwifery staff group has been identified from their existing pay scale are also presented.
In order to provide an overall summary of the usage made of both agency and bank nursing & midwifery workforce in NHS Scotland, these data have been presented together as well as individually. Previously a combination of contracted and non-contracted agencies was used, however by investing in the use of the Nurse bank and contracted agencies a decrease in the use of non-contracted agencies has occurred. As a result there has been a significant decrease in expenditure, approximately 61%, since 2005/06 compared to the latest available figures as at March 2008/09.
Agency Nursing
The usage of Agency Nursing and Midwifery has decreased in the year 2008/09 by 24.0% in comparison to 2007/08 figure. The cost of employing these staff has decreased by 14.5%.
The use of non-registered agency nursing and midwifery staff decreased by 54.6% from 96.7 average WTE for the year ending 31st March 2008 to 43.9 for the year ending 31st March 2009. Over the same period the use of registered and midwifery staff decreased by 11.6% from 237.3 average WTE to 209.8. A saving of £1.7 million.
Bank Nursing
NHSScotland continue to invest in the use of the nurse bank and as a result an increase in expenditure can be seen. This increase, in part, may be accounted for by the commencement of Agenda for Change and pay arrears made to some bank staff.
The usage of Nursing and Midwifery Bank staff has increased in the year 2008/09 by 4.9% in comparison to 2007/08 figure. The cost of employing these staff has increased by 11.0% (£9.8 million).
Bank and Agency staff in comparison to capacity
While looking at nursing and midwifery staff capacity (staff in post, vacancies, bank and agency) bank nursing accounts for 5.7%, a slight increase of 0.2% on 2007/08 figure. Agency nursing accounts for 0.4% of the capacity, a decrease of 0.1% on the 2007/08 figure. The vacancy rate has increased by 0.6% from 1.7% to 2.3% during the 2007/08 to 2008/09 period.
Bank cost accounts for 4.7% (£99.3 million) of the overall Nursing and midwifery costs, while Agency accounts for 0.5% (£10.4 million).
List of historic tables - previously published agency and bank information is available within this section.
Workforce Information
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