With the NHS turning 75 earlier this month, there are urgent calls for the government to reconsider how vital specialist contractors are for the public healthcare service.
When the government changed IR35 rules back in 2017, public sector bodies, including the NHS, faced potential tax liabilities when outsourcing staff.
The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE) believe that this has only worsened staff shortages, putting the NHS in the position it’s in today.
Derek Cribb, IPSE Chief Executive, said, “As the NHS turns seventy-five it is important that we recognise the role that freelance specialists have played in ensuring services are delivered. The external expertise and additional capacity that freelancers bring ultimately help the organisation operate more efficiently.