Are temporary ward staff cost effective?
BACKGROUND
Temporary staff cost the NHS a significant amount, which is unlikely to fall in the near future. What is their effect on care and cost?


OBJECTIVE
To compare staff activity, cost and service quality in wards with and without temporary staff, and highlight issues that ward managers need to monitor.


METHODS
Data on patient dependency, nursing activity, workload, staffing and quality was collected for 959 NHS wards; 659 wards had permanent staff only, while 300 had permanent, bank and agency staff.


RESULTS
Workloads and absence on wards with temporary staff were greater than on those with permanent staff only. Staffing levels on the former were lower, and working styles and quality scores differed.


CONCLUSIONS
Ward managers should monitor temporary staffing, and its effect on ward staff activity and nursing quality.
Keith
K
Hurst
D003284:Contract Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D016208:Databases, Factual; D006801:Humans; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards; D006113:United Kingdom