Spending by Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board on agency and bank staff as well as overtime for employees soared by almost £2m in a single month.

A report, issued ahead of this week’s meeting (March 10), of the North Wales Health Board, revealed that between December, 2021, and January, 2022, spending rose from £10,580,000 to £12,560,000.

The cost of agency staff increased by £239,000 to £4.4m – 5.7% of the total wage bill – and bank staff costs rose by £621,000 to £3.1m.

The biggest rise was in overtime pay, which went up during the month by £1.5m, while the amount spent on locums dropped by £223,000 to £1.7m.

READ MORE: Betsi chiefs outline plan to deal with winter pressures

The report states: “The overall increase in spend across non-core pay elements can be linked to the increase in unscheduled care activity due to ongoing Covid and winter pressures and the ongoing support of the Covid-19 vaccination programme.”

There is currently a campaign to recruit more medical and dental consultants and the vacancy rate for nurses is currently at 9.5%, its lowest for 18 months. 

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The latest phase of an overseas recruitment campaign for nurses is currently underway.

Though the campaigns are expected to improve the situation the report warns that quarantine rules for overseas travel may delay matters, and the report adds: “It is acknowledged that there is a UK shortage of nurses (band 5 in particular) therefore recruitment campaigns will reduce rather than eradicate the vacancy levels.”

Apart from Covid-related matters sickness levels among staff have fallen, with the biggest cause of absence being stress-related matters.

READ MORE: The latest covid figures in North Wales

One of the reasons is said to be the amount of overtime being worked, and regular reviews are held to ensure that staff do not work excessive hours.

The meeting starts at 9.30am on Thursday and can be accessed via https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrBwl-p6NbxglxUv5rGMkEw