Page last updated: 29-JUN-2010

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 69%, since 2005/06 compared to the latest available figures as at March 2009/10.


Bank and Agency comp

Agency Nursing

The usage of Agency Nursing and Midwifery has decreased in the year 2009/10 by 31.8% in comparison to the 2008/09 figure.  The cost of employing these staff has decreased by 21.2%.

The use of non-registered agency nursing and midwifery staff decreased by 40% from 43.9 average WTE for the year ending 31st March 2009 to 26.3 for the year ending 31st March 2010.  Over the same period the use of registered nursing and midwifery staff decreased by 30% from 209.8 average WTE to 146.6.  A saving of £2.2 million.  

 

Bank Nursing

The use of Nursing and Midwifery Bank staff has seen a decrease in the year 2009/10 as NHSScotland aim to reduce Nursing and Midwifery bank expenditure. Nursing and midwifery bank usage decreased by 1.1% in comparison to 2008/09 figure.  The cost of employing these staff has decreased by 1.3%, a saving of £1.2 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 5.5%, a slight decrease of 0.2% on the 2008/09 figure.  Agency nursing accounts for 0.3% of the capacity, a decrease of 0.1% on the 2008/09 figure.  The vacancy rate has remained static at 2.3% from the 2008/09 to 2009/10 period.

Bank cost accounts for 4.7% (£98 million) of the overall Nursing and midwifery costs, while Agency accounts for 0.4% (£8.2 million).

Nursing and Midwifery capacity


List of historic tables - previously published agency and bank information is available within this section.

 


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