There is a shortage of nurses in the NHS

Figures released in a Parliamentary written answer to the Liberal Democrats show that spending on agency nurses has almost trebled in five years.

In 1996 to 1997, agency nurses cost English trusts a total of �191m.

The biggest spender was London, which paid out twice as much as any other.

Dr Evan Harris, Liberal Democrat health spokesman, said: "It is a false economy to pay for private nurses instead of recruiting and retaining NHS trained nurses and doctors.

"Ministers are spending more but not spending more wisely.

"Too much of the new money for the NHS is spent trying to plug the leaks."

The government has launched the NHS Professional scheme, which aims to use existing NHS staff rather than outside agencies to provide temporary cover.

However, Dr Harris said this scheme had failed.

He said ministers had already had to bail it out with at least �10m to date.

"Recruitment and retention of nurses depends on the ability of the NHS to compete effectively with other employers," he said.

"With low wages, high pressure and no affordable housing, trusts are fighting a losing battle to keep their permanent staff."

More freedom

Shadow Health Secretary Dr Liam Fox said the Conservatives would give all trusts the freedom to set their own basic pay and conditions.

He said: "The cost of agency nursing makes a huge contribution to the deficits that Hospital Trusts have been running up, seen at the John Radcliffe Hospital for example, where �17m of its �22m deficit was incurred due to the cost of agency nurses.

"It is nonsensical that Trusts do not have the freedom to set basic pay and conditions which would enable them to use their money to better reward staff."

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "We are recruiting tens of thousands more nurses into the NHS and new figures out tomorrow will show we have gone a long way beyond the NHS Plan target of 20,000 more nurses by 2004.

"Our recruitment drive is working.

"As we build on this success in recruiting extra, permanent NHS nurses, the amount spent on agency staff will fall."