Monitor the new NHS
regulator has spent close to half a million pounds on recruitment fees to two
head hunter firms both financially connected to Members of the House of Lords.
The Health and Social
Care Act massively increased the significance of Monitor’s role in the new NHS.
The previous responsibility had predominantly been as regulator to the foundation trusts.
The Health and Social Care Act greatly expanded their
significance to become the sector regulator of the NHS and competition enforcer.
These new roles have
required new staff and Monitor have chosen two firms with financial links to
Members of the Lords to fill the key roles in their organisation. Following a
Freedom of Information request, it was discovered that one of the companies,
Odgers Berndtson, filled 12 senior personnel at a cost of close to £200,000 in
agency fees.