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| NHS paid £120 an hour for nurses | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Hospitals have paid over £120 an hour for agency workers to cover for gaps in staffing, according to latest figures. | Hospitals have paid over £120 an hour for agency workers to cover for gaps in staffing, according to latest figures. |
| The highest amounts paid for an agency nurse were £121.59 an hour by the Royal Berkshire trust and £121.10 by the Chesterfield and Royal Hospital trust. | The highest amounts paid for an agency nurse were £121.59 an hour by the Royal Berkshire trust and £121.10 by the Chesterfield and Royal Hospital trust. |
| The figures for the past year were obtained by the Conservative Party under the Freedom of Information Act. | The figures for the past year were obtained by the Conservative Party under the Freedom of Information Act. |
| Last year, the Commons Public Accounts Committee said temporary nurses helped NHS flexibility but could be costly. | Last year, the Commons Public Accounts Committee said temporary nurses helped NHS flexibility but could be costly. |
| Job cuts | Job cuts |
| Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Labour's chaotic, short-term planning has let down NHS staff. Some stability for them is the least we would have expected from the billions that the government has poured into the NHS. | Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Labour's chaotic, short-term planning has let down NHS staff. Some stability for them is the least we would have expected from the billions that the government has poured into the NHS. |
| "It's incredible that agency staff can be paid such high hourly rates when jobs are being cut at the same time. This is typical of the waste that's occurred under this government." | "It's incredible that agency staff can be paid such high hourly rates when jobs are being cut at the same time. This is typical of the waste that's occurred under this government." |
| The Tories say average hourly rates in the NHS are £15.66 for a nurse, £24.14 for a junior doctor and £60.31 for a consultant. | The Tories say average hourly rates in the NHS are £15.66 for a nurse, £24.14 for a junior doctor and £60.31 for a consultant. |
| The highest figures for non-clinical agency staff were £119 an hour for a 'turnaround director' at Coventry Teaching Primary Trust and £110 an hour for financial staff at Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals Trust in Berkshire. | |
| 'Important role' | 'Important role' |
| At the other end of the scale, the most Bath and North East Somerset Primary Care Trust paid for an agency nurse was £31.15 an hour and the most expensive agency worker at South Western Ambulance Trust was a deputy finance director who received £33.33 an hour. | At the other end of the scale, the most Bath and North East Somerset Primary Care Trust paid for an agency nurse was £31.15 an hour and the most expensive agency worker at South Western Ambulance Trust was a deputy finance director who received £33.33 an hour. |
| A spokesman for the Royal Berkshire Hospital said: "We are unsure what the figure represents but it may well be that the sum was paid as a one-off payment for expert medical care. The hospital will be checking its records further." | A spokesman for the Royal Berkshire Hospital said: "We are unsure what the figure represents but it may well be that the sum was paid as a one-off payment for expert medical care. The hospital will be checking its records further." |
| Temporary staff are employed in the NHS to cover changes in workload, vacant positions and short-term absences. | Temporary staff are employed in the NHS to cover changes in workload, vacant positions and short-term absences. |
| The Public Accounts Committee report said: "Properly managed, temporary nurses play an important role in helping hospitals achieve flexibility. | The Public Accounts Committee report said: "Properly managed, temporary nurses play an important role in helping hospitals achieve flexibility. |
| "Excessive use can be costly, particularly when trusts are heavily reliant on agency nurses. High use of temporary nurses can also have a negative impact on patient care and satisfaction." | "Excessive use can be costly, particularly when trusts are heavily reliant on agency nurses. High use of temporary nurses can also have a negative impact on patient care and satisfaction." |