Locum doctors and nurses rip off NHS, says health service's regulator

Regulator's chief executive says he has seen agency staff bid for the best pay for stand-in shifts

The pledge to extend the NHS to a seven day service has proved controversial, with data about weekend deaths fiercely contested (Getty)

Locum doctors and nurses are exploiting the NHS by demanding extortionate rates for agency shifts, the health service’s regulator has said.

Jim Mackey, chief executive of regulator Monitor, said he had seen cases of medical workers bartering to get the best price for stand-in shifts with hospitals desperate for last-minute staff.

“That actually happens and those managers just have nowhere to go,” he said.

“I’ve also seen examples where someone has booked a locum or an agency nurse and five minutes before the shift is due to start they decide not to turn up because they’ve got a better offer next door. So it’s bred really unprofessional behaviour out there and that’s really, really bad,” he told The Times.

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt has previously accused agencies of “ripping off” the NHS, but Mr Mackey is the first health service leader to say that doctors and nurses must take some responsibility themselves.

He said doctors and nurses have given up full time jobs because they can earn more through agencies.

“I think there are an awful lot of people working through service companies and therefore doing it and not paying very much tax in the meantime,” he said.

His comments come after Monitor and the NHS Trust Development Authority introduced caps on the hourly rates paid for all agency staff.

As of 1 February, junior doctors can only receive double pay for locum shifts. Other medical staff, including nurses, are entitled to 75 per cent above basic pay while providing agency cover.