The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) has disagreed with comments made yesterday by the chief executive of BritishMedicalJobs.

Andre Shelton asserted that the number of NHS locums, GPs and nurses risked undermining patient care. He argued that due to a rising number of locums, budgetary pressures would lead to a decline in the number of permanent staff.

Responding to these claims Gillian Econopouly (right), the REC’s head of policy, told Recruiter: “It is important that we understand the reality of what locums do.

“NHS locums are brought in to cover for staff absence, sickness and increased demand due to patient numbers. Rather than compromise patient safety, they are an essential tool in ensuring that staff shortage does not lead to a drop in standards.

“Without an effective temporary workforce — comprising highly trained, dedicated professionals — it will be difficult for hospitals to keep waiting lists low and maintain the required standards of patient care.

“One of the reasons that there has been an increase in the number of locums in recent years is the Working Time Regulations, which place restrictions on the hours full-time staff can work.”