Reduction in spending on off-contract nurses, midwives and healthcare support workers in Northern Ireland

Spending on off-contract nurses, midwives and healthcare support workers within our Health & Social Care system has reduced by £120million since May 2023.

A new Nursing/Midwifery and Healthcare Support Framework was established that year, which was a vital step in delivering a reduction in agency staff costs incurred by the health service in Northern Ireland.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said: “The Nursing /Midwifery and Healthcare Support Workers Framework has been successfully adopted by all Trusts and is working well.

“The new Framework is the first step in an extensive programme of work which has been undertaken in partnership with our trade unions to control and reduce the use of agency workers and build a substantive workforce.

“This Framework, alongside work that we are progressing to end our reliance on agencies across all professions, is continuing to play a significant part in helping to build a sustainable workforce that delivers safe and effective care.”

The reduction in the use of agency arrangements overall is a major priority across Health & Social Care, with work continuing to stabilise teams and build a sustainable workforce.

While filling permanent vacancies continues to be a key area of focus for Trusts, it is acknowledged that some agency use may still be needed. Trusts, however, aim to significantly reduce the number of agency workers deployed. This will be done in a safe, measured, and phased way.

Notes to editors:

1. The Nursing/Midwifery and Healthcare Support Framework was introduced on 15 May 2023. It established a list of approved suppliers to provide agency workers when required at pre-agreed payment rates, set by contract.
2. The initiative has been central to the key goal of ending expenditure on “off-contract/Framework” agencies not covered by contractual arrangements. Off-contract means outside public procurement and not covered by pre agreed payment rates or terms and conditions.
3. For patient safety reasons, there are a small number of complex cases that require to be supported by existing off-framework arrangements, which are monitored by the Trusts and the Department of Health.