The NHS Purchasing and Supply Authority (NHS PASA) has drawn up a national framework agreement containing 33 recruitment agencies to provide gardeners, cleaners and drivers to NHS trusts.

Each agency will be audited to ensure they maintain standards following a strict pre-qualification and tendering process, carried out by NHS PASA and the Department of Health Commercial Directorate.

Claimed benefits include reduced risk to NHS organisations, more competitive prices, a complete coverage of ancillary job types in all regions across the country and NHS trusts no longer needing to carry out their own tenders.

The framework agreement is also open to organisations including the NHS in Wales and the Department of Health.

Andrea Gibson, buyer for professional services at NHS PASA, said: “This agreement gives NHS organisations confidence that the list of suppliers will deliver the best possible temporary staff whatever their individual needs.”

•Reed Health Group has reached an agreement to act as master vendor to supply allied health professionals to a group of NHS trusts in north-west London.

The recruitment company will supply various staff including physiotherapists, radiographers, lab assistants and biomedical scientists to the North West London NHS Procurement Confederation.