ROH overspends on agency staff amid vacancies and high sickness rate

Recruitment is taking place to a number of vacancies within operating theatres but it is expected that current levels of agency spend will continue until these new staff are appointed.

Board papers for July, released to HSJ under the Freedom of Information Act, said: “Some savings will begin to filter through in the early part of quarter two, with the impact of new Band 6 posts making a more material impact by the end of the quarter.”

Staff sickness was identified as a continuing concern, standing at 4.7 per cent in June, one percentage point ahead of targeted levels.

“Sickness levels have contributed to a further overspend against pay budgets in June”, the papers said.