Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Lord Lansley (Conservative) on Friday, 10 February 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 14 February 2006. It was answered by Liam Byrne (Labour) on Wednesday, 8 March 2006 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Health Committee

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the written answer of 11 January 2006, Official Report, column 725W, on Health Committee evidence, what percentage of the national health service pay bill was spent on agency staff in each year since 1997–98; and which groups constitute agency staff for the purpose of these calculations.
Answer

The Department collects expenditure information on non-national health service staff. Non-NHS staff expenditure includes all agency staff and any other staff not directly employed. Information relating to the percentage of the NHS paybill spent on non-NHS staff under the following categories—medical, dental, nursing, midwifery and health visiting, scientific, therapeutic and technical, administrative and clerical, healthcare assistants and other support, maintenance and works, ambulance and other employees from 1997–98 to 2004–05, the last year for which figures are currently available is shown in the table. This shows a reversal of the previously upward trend of spend, which we expect to continue due to the range of actions we have in hand to reduce costs, drive down demand and improve quality.

Agency percentage spend
Staff category 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05
Medical 0.54 0.55 0.57 0.67 0.86 1.08 1.18 1.09
Dental 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.01
Nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 1.34 1.59 1.93 2.12 2.41 2.42 1.84 1.33
Scientific, therapeutic and technical staff 0.43 0.55 0.60 0.72 0.85 0.90 0.86 0.70
Administrative and clerical 0.37 0.42 0.48 0.57 0.67 0.67 0.65 0.60
Healthcare assistants and other support staff 0.17 0.18 0.18 0.19 0.19 0.23 0.20 0.18
Maintenance and works staff 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03
Ambulance staff 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Other employees 0.10 0.11 0.11 0.12 0.14 0.30 0.26 0.27
Total 2.98 3.43 3.90 4.44 5.16 5.64 5.03 4.21
Source: Annual Financial Returns of NHS trusts, primary care trusts and strategic health authorities

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
443 c1618W;443 c1618W; 51881
Session
2005-06
Related items
Health Committee Evidence
Wednesday, 11 January 2006
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Agency nurses Expenditure NHS Pay
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk