For what period of time were health boards required to collect the information set out in the NHS Wales Circular on Medical and Dental Agency and Locum deployment dated 23 October 2017?
Welsh Health Circular Addressing the impact of NHS Wales medical and dental agency and locum deployment in Wales (WHC/2017/042) was published in October 2017 setting out a national control framework of limits and targets for agency and locum deployment and expenditure.
In line with the requirements set out in WHC/2017/042 organisations submitted reports to the Welsh Government commencing from November 2017. The final reports received were for the period October to December 2019.
Further work is underway to understand, mitigate and address the increased reliance on agency workforce. Whilst it is understood the pressure on the core NHS workforce and services in recent years has necessitated this flexible and additional resource, action will be taken this year, in line with the wider national workforce implementation plan, to focus on a more sustainable workforce in NHS in Wales.