Hospitals are being pressured to fund flights and resorts for company nurses on £100 an hour amid a rising NHS staffing disaster.
A Sunday Mail investigation has revealed a 2000% improve in non-public contractors over the past decade – from £3.9 million in 2012 to £88.9 million at present.
NHS Scotland can be paying about £102 million a yr for company medical doctors and dentists – up from £67 million in 2014.
The Royal School of Nursing (RCN) accused Well being Secretary Humza Yousaf of “lining the pockets” of millionaire company house owners whereas failing to pay NHS employees what they deserve.
Nurses are balloting for strike motion over pay regardless of a staffing disaster, which has led to non-public contractors being flown in from different elements of the UK.
Our probe discovered:
● English businesses providing flights and lodging to nurses keen to work in Scotland.
● A Scots company promoting pay charges of £98.50 an hour.
● NHS employees in Scotland have carried out 11 million hours of time beyond regulation over the past 5 years at a price of £230 million.
Final week, it emerged a well being board paid one company £1900 to cowl a single nursing shift.
Colin Poolman, interim director of RCN Scotland, mentioned: “Vacancies are at document ranges with greater than 6000 NHS nursing and midwifery posts unfilled.
“It's no shock that well being boards are having to resort to costly company nurses to fill the gaps however the degree of spend is just not sustainable.
“Our members discover it surprising that the Scottish Authorities would fairly line the pockets of the non-public sector than guarantee nursing employees are paid a good wage and that nursing employees are having to work extra hours in company roles to make ends meet.”
Labour MSP Alex Rowley added: “We're paying tens of millions to those businesses whereas failing to agree an honest pay rise for NHS nurses.”
Job search web site Adzuna yesterday claimed the typical company nurse wage in Scotland is £70,101.
An advert from London-based Mayday Healthcare, which promised “lodging and flights,” mentioned: “We have now an pressing requirement in Scotland paying between £30ph and £35ph.”
The Scottish Nursing Guild – one other company – provides £98.50 an hour for financial institution vacation work.
And Sirona Medical provided pay of £1250–£1750 every week for theatre nurses working 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday.
The Scottish Authorities was contacted.
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