NHS LPP supports new NHS pan-London consortium for international recruitment

NHS London Procurement Partnership (NHS LPP) has facilitated procurement and other support for a new consortium being officially launched today across London by Health Education England with NHS England and NHS Improvement to coordinate the recruitment of international nurses.  

Part of the CapitalNurse programme, the service will provide NHS trusts with a single point of access  for recruiting overseas nurses, allowing them to source the very best staff from multiple countries and agencies at the same time, reducing costs while upholding ethical recruitment principles.  

The CapitalNurse scheme was launched in 2015 to help ensure that London has the right number of nurses, with the right skills, in the right places.  The new international recruitment service is the result of collaboration between Health Education England, NHS England and NHS Improvement and NHS LPP.

The service will increase ethical international recruitment and build partnerships with new countries, making sure the supplying country benefits from the arrangement as well as the individual health worker and the NHS.  

This is the first time that London trusts have come together in this way to jointly procure and manage international recruitment.  

Six overseas recruitment agencies have been awarded contracts to deliver the service. The agencies will recruit overseas nurses over a year in three waves, including recruiting from India, the Philippines and the rest of the world. A dedicated, senior contract manager has been recruited and will be hosted by NHS LPP, who have facilitated procurement for the consortium to manage all aspects of contracts and recruitment on behalf of trusts using the service.  

The programme is being serviced through a website and portal. The website provides information for newly recruited overseas nurses or those looking to work in London, while a password protected portal will enable participating trusts to manage their recruitment pipeline and access resources.  

This process ensures the consortium can recruit from more than one country and via more than one provider. Trusts will then benefit from the reduction in agency costs through economies of scale, greater global access to recruiting overseas nurses and a consistent flow of overseas nurses for their organisations.  

Michael Pace, Managing Director, NHS LPP said:

“This is a new, innovative concept in collaborative procurement and is an excellent example of how NHS and health care organisations can work together, pan-London to achieve the best outcomes for everyone.

“It is also a clear demonstration of the many ways NHS LPP is supporting the NHS across our members to deliver the best care for patients in the changing environment.”

Lizzie Smith, London Regional Director, Health Education England, said:   

“One in three of London’s nurses are currently recruited from abroad. We expect this new service to boost nursing numbers, providing patients in London with high-quality, safe care.  

“This initiative ensures that overseas nurses are employed with a standardised offer through the CapitalNurse scheme, with the same financial support and pastoral care, and that ethical recruitment principles are aligned across all London trusts.” 

Duncan Burton, Director of International Nurse Recruitment for the NHS said:   

“International recruitment is part of the NHS People Plan and will bring overseas nurses to London’s front line who help save countless lives. Trusts working together like this to ethically recruit from other countries and provide high quality pastoral support to nurses joining us from overseas will be a boost to nursing numbers right across capital.” 

Jane Clegg, Joint Regional Chief Nurse, NHS England and Improvement (London) said:

“London is a world-class city to both train and work as a nurse, and we are so proud to be able to support international nursing talent to provide great care for Londoners.  

This recruitment consortium is one of many initiatives we are putting in place to ensure the NHS in London is supported with the skilled and experienced nurses needed as we face the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.”  

Nine early adopter London trusts are already participating in the project.  

There are just under 9,000 nursing vacancies in London. 

For media enquiries please contact Zuleika.henderson@gstt.nhs.uk