Recruiters have called for clarification from the Department of Health following the announcement that NHS PASA (Purchasing & Supply Agency) is to be closed within the next 12 months. PASA is to be replaced by a more commercially focused regionally based regime (See Recruiter news May 12 2009.)

John Herron, director at Reed Nurse, Health Doctor, told Recruiter that he had not received any communication from PASA or the Department of Health about how the changes were going to affect the agency in the short term.

Herron says he is worried that the absence of PASA, PASA framework agreements might no longer apply, and that this could allow apply agencies without similarly high standards as framework agreement agencies to win business from the NHS.

“The Department of Health should issue a statement saying either the existing framework agreements are in place, or there will be a new tendering process,” says Herron. “We can’t go back to the bad old days. We must ensure that the high standards of compliance under PASA are maintained.”

Craig Tibbles, director of Orion Locums, told Recruiter there was “a total sense of confusion and a lack of communication” from PASA and the Department of Health about what would happen between now and when PASA closed its doors. 

He said that he wrote to PASA earlier this week seeking clarification, but that PASA had responded saying that they didn’t know anything more about it than he did.

Tables says he concerned that the new regionally based purchasing regime could restrict the flow of staff between areas of the country where there are surplus staff to Ares of staff shortage.  He says that this will only be possible if agencies have individual arrangements with each of the individual PCT (Primary Care Trust).