£14m+ agency spend displaced
85% Bank fill
160 agency workers migrated to Bank
The Situation
Following the pandemic, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) faced sustained levels of agency use as demand and labour market conditions placed pressure across a range of services. In late 2023, the Trust initiated an organisation-wide initiative to reduce agency reliance.
The Solution
NHS Professionals (NHSP) worked closely with the Trust to identify key areas for improvement through a structured four‑phase methodology: diagnose, design, implement and optimise.
This included introducing stronger agency cascade controls, reducing above‑cap rates, ending direct booking to ensure Bank‑first fulfilment, tightening lead times and standardising retrospective booking, and strengthening rostering discipline and operational grip.
The approach also delivered agency‑to‑Bank migration through high levels of onsite and 1‑to‑1 worker support, underpinned by weekly joint governance to maintain momentum, address risks promptly and embed a consistent, transparent working model across the Trust.
Spotlight: Band 5 Nursing
A key part of reducing agency usage focused on specific workforce pressure points, including stabilising Band 5 inpatient nursing. Between November 2025 and January 2026, the team targeted this area, delivering a £714,545 reduction in agency spend, a 19.5% year‑on‑year reduction in Band 5 agency usage, and 38,855 Bank hours, representing a 27.8% year‑on‑year increase. These results demonstrated how quickly local‑level benefits could be realised.
The Result
Between April 2024 and March 2026, GMMH has displaced over £14m in agency spend, migrated 160 agency workers to the Bank and achieved an increase in Bank fill from 74% to 85%.
“Our partnership with NHSP has strengthened GMMH’s flexible workforce, improved Bank utilisation, and supported sustainable reductions in agency spend through collaborative and responsive working. Through proactive workforce planning and collaborative problem solving, the local NHSP team have supported our ambition to reduce agency reliance. While there is still work to do, the partnership is now delivering tangible results, with increased Bank utilisation and improved cost effectiveness for the Trust.
Gemma Dunning, Head of E-Rostering and Temporary Staffing, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust