NHS spends £26 million on consultancy

pharmafile | December 18, 2018 | News story | Manufacturing and Production BMA, Consultancy, Jobs, NHS, health 

Private consultancy firms were paid at least £26 million as part of a reorganisation of the NHS, in what has been described as an “unacceptable” transfer of vital funds away from patient care.

The figures, obtained by the British Medical Association (BMA) revealed that more than 550 new non-clinical jobs have been created across the country thus leading to a bill of around £32 million a year.

The restructuring has led to a “new cadre being formed” according to The Guardian, as three-hundred and sixteen of the jobs attracted salaries of up to £142,500 a year.

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Kent and Medway STP, which spent almost £8.2 million on consultancy costs created 36 jobs at a cost of £2.4 million each year.  Meanwhile South East London STP spent £4.2 million on consultancy, creating 26 jobs costing a total of £1.7 million.

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chair of the BMA council, said: “Given the perilous state of NHS finances and patients suffering delays for essential services, it is utterly unacceptable to see so much money flowing away from patient care to private consultancy firms.”

“For many frontline staff – so used to seeing a lack of investment in workforce, equipment and buildings in their workplaces – this level of spending on private consultancy firms will be extremely difficult to comprehend.”

Louis Goss

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