Cost of NHS Professionals 'higher' than agencies

NHS Professionals, the agency set up by the Department of Health to help tackle the problem of finding staff to cover vacant nursing posts, could cost the government much more than using existing private agencies, according to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation.Bill McClimont, chair of its nursing and care worker division, said: 'NHS Professionals will try to replace all banks and all it can of nursing agencies. If it succeeds, it will cost the NHS 40 to 50 per cent more.'He estimates start-up costs alone were nearly£7m.