Following an announcement by the department of health that it would explore options for private-sector investment in the state-owned NHS Professionals, Unison Karen Jennings, UNISON Head of Health claims it makes no sense at all to bring back private companies who will want a “slice of the action” in return.

But a spokesperson for medical recruitment specialist Healthcare Locums (HCL) told Recruiter that the union’s promotion of NHSP as a cost-effective part of the Health service is as “misguided” as the claim that independent staffing agencies are “ripping off hospitals”.