Merseyside recruiters secure place as NHS suppliers

Merseyside-recruitment and health service provider, Castlerock Recruitment Group (CRG), have been appointed to national framework by the Government Procurement Service (GPS).

CRG Healthcare, a sub-division of CRG, was awarded the place on the framework for Agency Nurses & Social Care Workers.

The business will now supply agency nurses and social care workers across the NHS in England and joins 40 other suppliers, spanning six regions.

Vivienne Jones, general manager at CRG Healthcare, said: “To be appointed onto this national framework agreement, is a huge accolade for CRG Healthcare and the Group, as a whole.”

This is the second national GPS framework agreement that CRG has been appointed on in recent months.

In July 2013, CRG Doctors was awarded a place on a multi-supplier framework agreement, to provide locum doctors and GPs to NHS bodies, as well as to the wider public sector.

Jones added: “The spend on agency nurses across the NHS in England is worth in the region of £1 billion per annum. GPS is a well-respected organisation that operates at the heart of the public sector to deliver significant and sustainable savings. As such, we are delighted to be able to provide highly-skilled and professional agency nurses and social care workers throughout six key regions in the UK.”

CRG Healthcare is run by former nurses and has been established for 13 years. It offers opportunities for qualified nurses across all areas, including Theatres, Critical Care and A&E.

Carol Holroyd, head of Sourcing and Category Management for Professional Services, Health said: “The new Agency Nurses & Social Care Workers framework will deliver savings of up to 30% compared to the previous framework and hourly charge rates include all costs so there are no hidden extras. By helping reduce the cost of recruiting temporary staff the framework will help the NHS protect front line health services.”