National price caps for agency staff working in the NHS

Monitor and the NHS TDA propose to introduce caps on the total amount NHS providers can pay per hour for an agency worker.

The proposed hourly price caps would apply to:

• all staff groups employed by NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts: nursing, medical, all other clinical and other non-clinical staff
• all agency staff and bank staff

The price caps would not apply to substantive/permanent staff or staff employed by ambulance trusts.

Next steps

Monitor and the NHS TDA will consider all responses to the consultation and decide whether, when and how to implement the price caps. Subject to that process, the aim is to introduce the price caps on 23 November 2015.

If you have questions relating to the consultation or proposed rules, please email agencyrules@monitor.gov.uk.