Southend Hospital is £2.1m over its budget for staff

9:30am Monday 19th September 2011 in Health By Steve Hackwell

SOUTHEND Hospital is overspending on staff by £2.1million a year, despite efforts to slash costs.

The hospital introduced long-term plans to cut the amount it pays agencies by recruiting more permanent staff. However, the costs are too high.

Hospital workers union Unison says agency nurse pay has been a long-standing problem the hospital has failed to get to grips with.

Regional spokesman Brian Gardiner said: “It keeps saying it is going to cut back on agency staff, but it is still spending an astronomical amount of money on them. It is part of the reason why we had a pay freeze this year and possibly next year.

“If people are sick they are forced to come in and are criticised if they are off too long when they are ill. Yet they are paying this money to agencies.”

A hospital spokesman said: “We have succeeded in dramatically reducing the number of agency nursing staff, including in A&E, by investing in additional permanent staff, and through the introduction of our e-rostering system, which assists with the allocation of shifts.”

George Foster Taylor ward, which has 25 beds for surgery patients, closed in April. Princess Anne and Bedwell wards closed last year, as the trust strove to plug a multi-million-pound blackhole in its budget.

Comments(10)

Aint it just the truth says...
11:35am Mon 19 Sep 11

The hospital is certainly not spending too much on cleaning staff, the place is disgustingly dirty in places. Bring back the permanent cleaners, they took a pride in their work and kept it spotless unlike the immigrant temps they use now.

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pussycats says...
12:26pm Mon 19 Sep 11

Right in one AIJTT. Also, too much money spent on useless, administrative employers wages. Speak to one, put through to another, who then still can not help. Too many letters sent out to patients needing appointments, asking them to ring hospital, then more letters sent out confirming appointments. A complete and utter waste of resources and time. Too many bosses and not enough, real, genuine nursing care.

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perini says...
12:28pm Mon 19 Sep 11

Too many chiefs on £50+ grand salaries and not enough Indians to do the actual work.

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Tiger Rider says...
1:05pm Mon 19 Sep 11

WELL THAT'S PRIVATIZATION FOR YOU, IT'S ALL ABOUT PROFIT, IT IS NOT ABOUT QUALITY OR CARE. The time is well overdue to cut out the middle man and recruit directly. The standard of care would also rise as workers would be rewarded appropriately for the work they do instead of scraping by on min wage as in the case of cleaning staff, whilst the agency creams off most of the money. Permanent staff also have more pride in their work and a bigger sense of responsibility because the onus is on them. These days no-one takes responsibility for shoddy workmanship or lack of care, the phrase "lessons have been learnt" is becoming all too familiar. Unison is also right agency nurses are hugely expensive, they earn much more than permanent nurses so the agency itself will be creaming off a huge amount too. Also temporary staff are not as conscientious as permanent staff because they have no ties to any given place and know they will be walking away from any short term responsibilities. All in all direct recruitment results in cheaper labour and more motivated work force. DON'T FORGET DIRTY HOSPITALS, AND AN UNMOTIVATED WORKFORCE WILL KILL PEOPLE.... LETS HOPE ITS NOT YOU OR YOUR LOVED ONES.

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jolllyboy says...
1:22pm Mon 19 Sep 11

I have to say that agency staff should not be necessary, they should employ nurses directly. i agree with pussycats on the appt system, it is more expensive and time wasting, and the post is not always received these days (experience of that !)Cleaners are not up to scratch and it is time nurses didnt feel it was beneath them to actually nurse.
This used to be a caring society but now greed and an I'm alright jack attitude is rife. When people have had enough the tide will have to turn and I think we are nearly there.

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Tiger Rider says...
1:30pm Mon 19 Sep 11

Aint it just the truth wrote:
The hospital is certainly not spending too much on cleaning staff, the place is disgustingly dirty in places. Bring back the permanent cleaners, they took a pride in their work and kept it spotless unlike the immigrant temps they use now.
AIJTH - Pussycats - Perini
YES ABSOLUTELY! and heres more....If private agencies can cream off huge profits so can the hospital.

Years ago the hospital canteen was really good now it is not. How much does this privately run venture make?

In patients meals are privately catered for. How much is the catering company making on the back of the tax payer?

Are the shops in the hospital privately run? They are really busy a nice little earner there.

THERE ARE PROBABLY LOTS OF WAYS TO SAVE AND MAKE MONEY IN THE NHS BUT POLITICIANS REALLY AREN'T INTERESTED BECAUSE THEY WANT TO PRIVATIZE THE WHOLE LOT, MORE SNOUTS IN THE "AGENCY" TROUGH SEE!


Also many come from abroad to get free medical attention, they are meant to pay but don't and we dont' chase them for payment. We have an NHS meaning a NATIONAL health service and not a WHS meaning a world health service. Mass immigration has also ensured a population explosion whilst all our services and infrastructure are at breaking point.

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Tiger Rider says...
1:32pm Mon 19 Sep 11

I wish that bloody roofing ad would disappear!

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fatmed says...
7:21am Tue 20 Sep 11

This is an interesting story because my wife is a nurse at the hospital and was recently given a small bonus (approx £50 I think) which was paid as the hospital had a surplus of cash that had not been spent in it's budget!!!

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Partin says...
8:12am Tue 20 Sep 11

The agency are often used as additional staff to give a higher level of supervision to vulnerable patients such as patients at risk of falls, confused patients and aggressive patients. The use if these staff is important to support the permanent ward staff and are only booked as and when there is a need. Agency staff on the wards I know are rarely used to cover actual vacancies. I suppose that a pool of nurses could be created to cover this intermittent requirement which may save money in the long run.

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Partin says...
8:13am Tue 20 Sep 11

The agency are often used as additional staff to give a higher level of supervision to vulnerable patients such as patients at risk of falls, confused patients and aggressive patients. The use if these staff is important to support the permanent ward staff and are only booked as and when there is a need. Agency staff on the wards I know are rarely used to cover actual vacancies. I suppose that a pool of nurses could be created to cover this intermittent requirement which may save money in the long run.

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