Talk to us, care agency boss tells NHS.

Abstract

The NHS should be talking to private sector managers to find out how to stop the exodus of 100,000 nurses from the profession each year, according to one private healthcare agency boss. Nigel Fielding, Managing Director of Abacus Care (http://www.abacuscare.com), which supplies full and part time nurses and carers to local hospitals, nursing and residential homes, says the Government should be finding out what care agencies are doing that is right that is helping them to attract and retain top level nursing staff on to their books – and following their example. And he branded the consultation that does take place between the government and the industry as ‘paid lip service’, adding that it is largely ignored. ‘The NHS is losing nine per cent of its staff every year which means they are having to recruit 100,000 qualified people each year just to stand still,’ he said. ‘But the fact is, poor management and bad organisation in stretched health service hospitals is causing a steady flow of disillusioned nurses and care workers in to agency work or out of the medical profession altogether.’ ‘Part of the reason for this is the difference in conditions, pay and work/life balance they can get with an agency which the NHS just doesn't seem to be able to address.’ ‘The NHS isn't subject to half the bureaucracy and red tape, tax related legislation and other employment costs, which affects the independent care agencies, yet still we're getting it right. This, in turn, is pushing up the cost of employing agency staff – and the cost is reflected, in turn, on the NHS who have to pay for nursing cover.’ ‘It's all down to bad management. Rather than interfering, the Government should be asking why private agencies are managing to recruit staff and the NHS isn't. The NHS should be turning to private sector managers who understand and value their staff and have the expertise and the management skills to retain the right sort of people.’ Nigel Fielding also warned that NHS Professionals, an in-house agency set up by the health department to provide cheaper freelance staff, would fall foul of the same malaise already affecting the NHS as a whole. ‘It will fall victim to the same bad management and low morale that is already affecting the NHS at large,’ he said. ‘The whole point is that NHS staff are wanting out of the whole system which gives them no flexibility and poor pay.’ He added: ‘Former NHS nurses can't believe the improvement in their work/life balance when they start working for an agency like Abacus Care. Staff can work as much or as little as they want, giving them the chance to take time out to study or pursue other interests.’ ‘You simply don't get this sort of flexibility and freedom working for the health service.’ Nigel Fielding Managing Director Abacus Care Lancashire UK