New initiative on medical and dental agency costs
Date published:
The tender process went live today for a new framework for the supply of medical and dental agency workers or locums.
It’s part of the continuing push by Northern Ireland’s Health and Social Care system to control the use of agency workers and build its substantive workforce.
It follows work to phase out high-cost off contract nursing and midwifery agency workers, and a complete halt to the use of agency social workers.
Under the latest initiative, the Business Services Organisation has launched a tender process inviting suppliers to join a new framework for the supply of agency doctors and dentists for health service organisations. The new tender will enable HSC to establish a framework of locum agencies that have been vetted and have made a commitment to meet a range of quality and governance standards and key performance indicators. It will support HSC organisations to meet their needs for flexible staffing in a safe and cost effective manner and within a framework of agreed terms and conditions.
Once the tender process is complete, Trusts and other Health and Social Care organisations will be permitted to use only those suppliers on the agreed Medical and Dental Agency Framework.
Eliminating the use of off contract temporary staffing is a key priority. Off contract means not covered by pre agreed terms and conditions. The new framework for the supply of agency doctors and dentists is in addition to frameworks established for agency nurses, midwives, and other staff groups across Northern Ireland.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said: “Everyone in Health and Social Care is clear that off contract expenditure is not a cost-effective use of taxpayers’ money. It can lead to a lack of workforce continuity, with the potential to undermine safe care and staff morale. Launching the tender for the supply of agency doctors and dentists is a further step in our commitment to reduce the use of locum staffing and invest in our HSC workforce.”
Neil Guckian, Chief Executive Western Health and Social Care Trust and Chair of the Regional Agency Reduction Implementation Group said: “Controlling agency spend is the right thing to do, and not just for cost reasons. We are endeavouring to improve the health service and stabilise our workforce. Our staff have told us that excessive agency use is unfair and impacts on their morale. We deeply appreciate the commitment of our substantive workforce and we are determined to fill our vacancies, stabilise our teams and work in partnership with trade unions to strengthen and ensure the benefits of working in HSC are promoted and understood by the entire health workforce.”
The tender is due to close week commencing 24 March 2025.
Notes to editors:
- For media enquiries please contact the DoH Press Office by email pressoffice@health-ni.gov.uk.
- Follow us on X @healthdpt and linkedIn Department of Health NI | LinkedIn
- The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service For Media Enquiries Only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.