RCN welcomes greater transparency on management consultants

Published: 23 October 2009

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) today (23 October) welcomed the publication of the Health Select Committee report on the use of management consultants.

Dr Peter Carter of the RCN said:

"We have been calling for some time for the amount of money spent on management consultants to be transparent, and for trusts to justify taking funds away from direct patient care. We would therefore welcome the new guidance for NHS organisations on making this information clearer and more consistent. However, what is still concerning, especially in today's tough economic climate, is that sums of up to half a million pounds per year can be spent by individual trusts on projects which are not related to improving patient care."

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Notes for Editors

1. For further information, interviews or illustrations please contact the RCN Media Office on 0207 647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/media

2. Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.