NHS: Agency Medical Staff

Debate between Baroness Merron and Baroness Davies of Devonport

Wednesday 9th September 2026 Lords Chamber

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care (Baroness Merron) (Lab)]

My Lords, in the 10-year health plan we committed to eliminate agency spending by the end of this Parliament. We are making significant progress. Medical agency spending fell by one-third, from £963.5 million in 2024-25 to £642.6 million in 2025-26. Overall NHS agency spending fell from £2.1 billion to £1.2 billion over the same period, a reduction of 43% and the lowest level on record.

[Baroness Davies of Devonport (Con)]

I thank the Minister. It is important to ask what efforts the Government are making to increase the number of permanent staff against bank or agency work. A friend of mine is a senior mental health nurse, and she tells me that agency staff cannot intervene in a severe mental health situation or give immediate medication in A&E. Can I ask specifically what permanent staffing for mental health nursing is going to be happening, and how can the Government try to increase this, bearing in mind we have an epidemic of mental health issues among young people?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

In the not-too-distant future, the mental health strategy will pull together all of the strands that the noble Baroness and her colleague are concerned with, and she is right to be concerned about them. In all these areas, patient safety comes first. That is the driver as to why we are reducing the use of agency. I agree that the end game in all of this is to increase the numbers of permanent staff, and the forthcoming workforce plan will support us in that.