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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| NHS England cap on agency payments comes into effect | NHS England cap on agency payments comes into effect |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A cap on spending on NHS agency staff comes into force in England on Monday, to save £1bn over the next three years. | A cap on spending on NHS agency staff comes into force in England on Monday, to save £1bn over the next three years. |
| By April, NHS trusts will not be able to pay agency staff, such as doctors and nurses, more than 55% more for a shift than a permanent member of staff. | By April, NHS trusts will not be able to pay agency staff, such as doctors and nurses, more than 55% more for a shift than a permanent member of staff. |
| Agency spending is one of the biggest costs to NHS trusts and is putting increasing pressure on the health service's finances. | Agency spending is one of the biggest costs to NHS trusts and is putting increasing pressure on the health service's finances. |
| The health secretary said it would stop agencies "ripping off the NHS". | The health secretary said it would stop agencies "ripping off the NHS". |
| But agencies complain they are being demonised when the problem lies in a shortage of trained staff. | But agencies complain they are being demonised when the problem lies in a shortage of trained staff. |
| And some hospitals are likely to struggle to meet the targets they have been set. | And some hospitals are likely to struggle to meet the targets they have been set. |
| The government in England set out plans on how agency spending was to be capped in June before setting out the details of how it would work last month. | The government in England set out plans on how agency spending was to be capped in June before setting out the details of how it would work last month. |
| The cap comes following reports of agencies being paid thousands of pounds to supply nurses and doctors for shifts. | The cap comes following reports of agencies being paid thousands of pounds to supply nurses and doctors for shifts. |
| Figures show that NHS trusts in England have overspent by £1.6bn so far this year (2015-2016), an increase on the £930m deficit in June. | Figures show that NHS trusts in England have overspent by £1.6bn so far this year (2015-2016), an increase on the £930m deficit in June. |
| 'Extortionate rates' | 'Extortionate rates' |
| From Monday, there will be a limit on the amount companies can charge per shift for providing all staff, including doctors and non-clinical personnel. | From Monday, there will be a limit on the amount companies can charge per shift for providing all staff, including doctors and non-clinical personnel. |
| Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said for too long staffing agencies have been able to "rip off the NHS by charging extortionate hourly rates". | Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said for too long staffing agencies have been able to "rip off the NHS by charging extortionate hourly rates". |
| He said this had cost billions of pounds a year and undermined staff working hard to deliver high-quality care. | He said this had cost billions of pounds a year and undermined staff working hard to deliver high-quality care. |
| "The tough new controls on spending that we're putting in place will help the NHS improve continuity of care for patients and invest in the front line - while putting an end to the days of unscrupulous companies charging up to £3,500 a shift for a doctor." | "The tough new controls on spending that we're putting in place will help the NHS improve continuity of care for patients and invest in the front line - while putting an end to the days of unscrupulous companies charging up to £3,500 a shift for a doctor." |
| Prof Sir Mike Richards, chief inspector of hospitals, said introducing the cap was the right thing to do. | Prof Sir Mike Richards, chief inspector of hospitals, said introducing the cap was the right thing to do. |
| "I welcome the fact that this is being phased in, allowing staff and trusts time to adjust and minimising any risks to patient safety," he said. | "I welcome the fact that this is being phased in, allowing staff and trusts time to adjust and minimising any risks to patient safety," he said. |
| "Close monitoring will allow us to assess the impact on individual trusts." | "Close monitoring will allow us to assess the impact on individual trusts." |