Hospital bosses have reduced their spending on temporary staff for the first time in a year.

Papers released by Colchester Hospital University Foundation NHS Trust show, in April, £472,000 was spent on agency and bank staff, compared to £571,000 in March and £515,000 in February.

In April 2007, the figures show their spending on temporary staff was just £169,000.

Bosses said they have reduced this spending significantly in the past two years.

Rob Bowman, director of workforce at the Trust, said: "We have tight control of approval for all temporary staffing and we have had for two years.

"In the two-thirds of last year, there was a slight increase but it was relatively steady.

"We did have a lot in the last quarter because there was a lot of work, especially in trying to meet tough new Government targets.

"But the figure is now half what it used to be two years ago."

Mr Bowman explained the Trust tried to fill vacancies with permanent staff first but this was not always quickly, or easily, done.

  • More in today's Gazette