PULSE News

Healthcare Staffing and services provider named Staffing Agency of the year

PULSE wins excellence award for the second year in a row

1st June 2010

PULSE, a leading provider of healthcare staffing and services, has been awarded Staffing Agency of the Year at this year’s Health Investor Awards. Winning the award for the second year in a row, PULSE competed against stiff competition from five other well-known staffing agencies.

PULSE places highly-skilled health, social care and scientific professionals in temporary and permanent jobs, world-wide, and is currently among the fastest growing companies in its sector.

The independent judging panel included Lord Ara Darzi, best known for his national review of the NHS, Bob Ricketts, the Department of Health’s director of system management and new enterprise, and Martin Green, chief executive of the English Community Care Association.

The panel said:
“The winners are genuine specialists with a real understanding of what is changing in the sector. They have plenty of evidence of delivery and success, reinforced by a focus on patients. And to cap it all they have broken into the Sunday Times’ 100 best companies to work for.”

Commenting on the win, CEO of PULSE, Richard MacMillan said:

“We are absolutely thrilled to have won this prestigious award recognising that the team at PULSE has continued to evolve within our market. As well as a healthy and growing agency business, we have adapted to meet the healthcare agenda of today by providing complex healthcare services directly to people in their homes and communities. We have also added value to clients through our bank business, Staffing Partners, which has established a great track record and saved Trusts millions of pounds. In future, we recognise the need to be even more flexible to meet the demands of the changing healthcare market and we aim to be at the forefront of this change.”

As a result of PULSE’s forward-looking strategy, performance in 2010 continues to exceed expectation building further on the growth achieved in 2009.

The Health Investor Awards promote excellence and recognise innovation in the healthcare sector.

European Working Time Directive Junior Doctor Research

12th April 2010

Alongside medeConnect, the research arm of Doctors.net.uk, we have carried out a study to explore the impact of the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) on junior doctor career progression

The results can be downloaded by clicking here

48 hour week a ticking time bomb for future doctors’ skills

12th April 2010

A survey of 500 junior doctors reveals the 48 hour week restriction is a ticking time bomb for UK hospitals as our next generation of doctors battle to find time to balance service delivery with other essential experience needed to progress their careers.

At a time when skills shortages already exist, two thirds of junior doctors agreed that the restriction introduced last August has had a detrimental effect on training, with one trainee surgeon claiming that opportunities have been reduced to such an extent that, “in 10-15 years time, the NHS will find itself with a generation of surgeons who can’t operate.”

The study, carried out by healthcare staffing provider, PULSE and medeConnect, the research arm of Doctors.net.uk, set out to explore the impact of the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) on junior doctor career progression and found that just seven months down the line:

• More than three quarters of junior doctors believed that the EWTD implementation has resulted in trends towards ‘poorly managed rotas’, ‘insufficient cover on wards’ and a ‘lack of training opportunities’.
• Just 16% agreed that it had resulted in an increase of study time available.
• Less than one third says it has reduced levels of fatigue for junior doctors.
• Almost half of those who said that the 48 hour week restriction has been detrimental to the quality of their training indicated that no one checks that they don’t exceed their legal working hours’ limit.

When asked why the restriction has hindered career progression, junior doctors cited too much time being spent on service provision due to staff shortages as a key barrier. Mismanaged rotas leading to senior house officers not present at clinics or on theatre lists when consultants are was also cited as a key reason. A lack of continuity of training with the same consultant in clinical sessions was another issue.

Kate Harris, spokesperson for PULSE, commented:

“It is a travesty that we find ourselves in this situation. At a time when skills shortages already exist, we should be doing everything possible to up skill our doctors, not hinder their career progression. A more creative approach from Trusts to workforce management will allow doctors to gain the balance of skills they need. Planned temporary cover is one way of addressing the rota gap issue so that, for example, doctors don’t get caught up covering for colleagues and can spend valuable time in the operating theatre shadowing consultants.”

PULSE Leaps 53 Places in the 2010 'The Sunday Times List of 100 Best Companies to Work For’

8th March 2010

Specialist healthcare staffing and services agency PULSE, has been awarded 46th place in the 2010 Sunday Times list of the 100 best companies to work for. Up 53 places from last year, PULSE also received a special award for employee engagement.

The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies Award recognises best practice in workplace management and identifies the top 100 companies to work for in the UK based on employee satisfaction.

This award is significant because the results are based on staff completing a questionnaire that evaluates the company’s performance in five key areas; leadership, internal communication, corporate social responsibility, employee welfare and professional development.

Richard MacMillan, CEO of PULSE, comments:

“We are absolutely delighted to have won a place on this year’s Sunday Times 100 Best Companies list – and rising 53 places since 2009 is a fantastic achievement. Our employees are at the heart of what we do, and the great team at PULSE has allowed us to diversify into new services such as placing staff internationally and delivering highly quality staff to provide healthcare in the home which have both been a great success. With 2010 showing revenues climbing still further it proves that being a great place to work contributes to outstanding results.”

One of the key initiatives that led to PULSE’s inclusion in the list and won them the award for Innovation in Employee Engagement is their work on raising environmental awareness – an internal campaign which involved a poster competition which saw employees send in photos of their children or themselves as youngsters and suggested green slogans.

PULSE was also awarded with a Best Companies two-star, ‘outstanding’ accreditation.

PULSE named in the Sunday Times Deloitte Buyout Track 100

PULSE storms into league table of Britain’s fastest growing private equity backed companies

8th February 2010, London

PULSE, a leading provider of healthcare staffing and services, today announced its position as the 6th fastest growing private equity backed company in the UK – according to figures released in the latest annual Sunday Times Deloitte Buyout Track 100 league table.

With rankings based on profit growth between 2006 and 2008, PULSE achieved 6th place with profits increasing significantly and turnover rising steeply from £102 million in 2006 to £138 million in 2008.

PULSE places highly-skilled health and social care professionals in temporary and permanent jobs, world-wide.

Richard MacMillan, CEO of PULSE, said:

“The Sunday Times Deloitte Buyout Track 100 is a barometer for the health of the UK private sector and we’re thrilled to break into the league in such a high position. Our philosophy has been to provide the best possible service to a diverse range of health and social care clients in the UK and overseas.

“The great team at PULSE and our ability to find and place skilled health and social care staff has allowed us to diversify into new markets with nearly half of our sales coming from organic investments made in the last 3 years. New services such as placing staff internationally and delivering highly quality staff to provide healthcare in the home have been a great success. With 2009 showing revenues climbing still further to £164 million, there’s plenty more in the tank; we think PULSE is a great prospect for the future.”

Lindsay Dibden, at investor HgCapital, added:

“With outstanding year-on-year growth, we’re delighted to see PULSE ranked in The Sunday Times Deloitte Buyout Track 100. It’s a fantastic achievement for the company and a testament to the commitment of all involved.”

PULSE leads personalisation agenda with launch of new ‘Independent Living’ programme

2nd February 2010, London

Specialist health and social care staffing agency PULSE has today announced the launch of its ‘Independent Living’ service, in response to the increasing demand for specialist support services in the community and home.

The increase in demand for specialist support services follows the Government’s focus on personalisation, which aims to put patient choice first and encourage a person centred approach to social care. Furthermore, with an increased emphasis on supporting people with disabilities back into the workplace and encouraging independence amongst those who require specialist support, the new service is launched at an important time for the social care sector.

The PULSE Independent Living service provides support to clients with spinal injuries, acquired and traumatic brain injuries, physical disabilities, learning disabilities, mental health issues and those requiring palliative and end of life care. In addition, the service provides specialist support to people who may also have complex health needs, often due to their disability or as a result of hospital treatment.

Working in partnership with the NHS and local authorities, The PULSE Independent Living team develop a person-centred care plan offering each client empowerment and choice. Each plan is based on a full assessment of health and social care support needs and is undertaken by a social care support professional or qualified nurse. The service provides personalised packages tailored to meet individual requirements, which can be daily or live in support, helping people who require intensive support to manage their conditions and remain independent for longer.

PULSE client Ian, 19, required round the clock care after he suffered a serious spinal injury following a near-fatal car crash. By developing a personalised support programme, the PULSE Independent Living team helped Ian to be able to take more control of his life and realise his ambitions. In addition to helping him carry out the physical tasks which were difficult for him as a result of his disability, his support team liaised with the relevant agencies to help him to move into his own home, return to study and look for employment.

Commenting on the care package, Ian said:

“After the accident I was scared of having to live life paralysed in a chair with everything being done for me. I thought my life was over until my carers became involved and taught me that I could still achieve my goals. Having good care around me is amazing, they do everything I can’t do and have motivated me to look forward to the future and become more independent. With their help, I have moved into my own home and look forward to getting back into work – something I thought would never be possible with my condition.”

With access to all medical, health and social care staffing groups, PULSE Independent Living is able to provide flexible support packages, positioning the individual right at the centre of the service. PULSE provide a range of specialist training to their staff to ensure that only experienced professionals, under the regulation of the Care Quality Commission, are responsible for delivering a competent, reliable and personalised service.

Jackie Lindsay, Head of Social Care at PULSE, comments:

“Our specialist support team puts client services at the heart of what they do, to provide those they support with the freedom to live as independently as possible. This type of support can have a dramatic impact on the quality of life for those that need help to carry out the simple every day activities most people take for granted. Independence, health and well being can all improve as a result of physical, emotional and psychological needs being met and this is what we are seeing with the clients we are working with. We are proud to be able to offer a tailored service allowing people who require specialist support, to receive the care they want, when and where they want it.”

PULSE has over 20 years experience in developing innovative staffing and service solutions and works as a trusted partner with NHS Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), local authorities and case managers to support people with a variety of specialist care and nursing needs.

Commenting on the PULSE Independent Living programme, Karen, a nurse in Manchester said:

“People benefit from receiving individual support in the comfort of their own home or their chosen environment and the PULSE Independent Living service provides just that. The programme enables our clients to live the life they want, safe in the knowledge that they are receiving safe, efficient social care and health support that is right for them.”

NHS Trusts, local authorities, care workers and clients can find out more by visiting www.pulseindependentliving.com . In addition to the latest vacancies, the new website provides information on the specialist support services available and offers advice to clients requiring specialist care on how to get back into work or general day to day living costs. The website also features a number of case studies of clients, who with the help of the PULSE Independent Living team, are making their own choices about the support they receive and living the life they want.

PULSE responds to Prime Minister's Immigration announcement

Increase in the number of UK workers enquiring about jobs in social care

18th November 2009

Jackie Lindsay, head of Independent Living, at health and social care staffing and services business PULSE comments:

“We’ve experienced a significant increase in the number of UK workers enquiring about jobs in social care over the last year. Despite the labour market slump across other sectors, the care industry continues to prosper and more job seekers from within the UK are now considering care work as an option.

The challenge for us is finding candidates with the right skills. With the Government’s ‘personalisation agenda’ meaning that more patients are opting to receive care from the comfort of their own home, we need professionals that can deal with the new demands and responsibilities this type of specialist care requires.

One thing is certain, if the Government cuts our supply of experienced over-seas workers, careful consideration must be given to where the money is going to come from to up-skill UK workers to ensure the quality of patient care doesn’t suffer.”

PULSE responds to Queen’s Speech announcement

Free personal care at home to become available for people with critical needs

18th November 2009

In response to today’s Queen’s Speech announcement that free personal care at home will become available for people with critical needs, Jackie Lindsay, head of Independent Living, at health and social care staffing and services company PULSE comments:

“We welcome the Government’s pledge to provide free personal home care for users with critical care needs and fully support a ‘need not means’ based approach.

We’ve experienced a significant increase in demand from those with critical needs wishing to be cared for by a dedicated nurse or support worker in their own home and this new funding will help ensure that their financial situation doesn’t deprive them of the type of care they choose.

Evidence shows that individual care delivered in the home is what people prefer. It is often safer because it removes the risk of hospital acquired infection and actually costs less to provide.

This supports our view that a ‘one size fits all’ approach doesn’t work when it comes to care and highlights the need to make specialist care accessible to all.

What is crucial is that funding is flexible enough to cater for each individual care package, from daily or live-in care through to around the clock support.

To ensure a seamless implementation, we urge all commissioners in all sectors to work with their service partners to design and deliver personalised care ensuring access for all people with critical needs.”

PULSE welcomes report by the Alzheimer's Society

17th November 2009

Kate Harris, spokesperson for health and social care staffing and services company PULSE comments:

“We welcome today's report by the Alzheimer's Society which reveals that half of all dementia patients leave hospital in a worse state than when they arrive.

The charity is calling for the NHS to cut the average hospital stay for dementia patients by one week, saving the service at least £80 million a year. We believe this can be achieved by ensuring that high quality individual support at home is provided to people with dementia. As well as reducing the length of time people spend in hospital, providing a personalised package of care and support at home can often avoid a hospital admission which, as the report suggests can be particularly unsettling for someone with dementia often making their symptoms worse and damaging their physical health.

The report also highlights the need to ensure that all health and social care professionals are trained to identify dementia in patients in their care and ensure that services are provided which recognise their individual needs.”

Better Workforce Planning Will Alleviate Pressure of Spending Squeeze, says PULSE

PULSE launches workforce optimisation suite at NHS Employers' annual conference

4th November 2009

Specialist healthcare staffing provider PULSE has today launched a suite of support services to optimise NHS workforce operations

Global skills shortages, high vacancy rates and an increasing pressure to meet Government targets all come at a time when demand for frontline services is increasing. PULSE Staffing Partners operates on the premise that cost savings can be realised and productivity levels increased when Trusts take a more collaborative approach with their staffing providers and engage in strategic workforce planning partnerships.

PULSE Staffing Partners delivers a range of support services which can be tailored to achieve workforce optimisation to meet local Trust needs. These include:

• PULSE Bank – set up to simplify the process of managing flexible workers whilst reducing agency spend. Working in partnership with NHS Trusts, PULSE Bank ensures that only competent and qualified staff treat patients. It also offers guaranteed fill rates to control spending and achieve savings.
• PULSE Recruitment Partners – NHS Trusts remain under pressure to recruit candidates to fill clinical vacancies. By working closely with local Trusts, PULSE can manage the entire process, recruiting these workers within agreed timescales whilst releasing savings to deliver patient services.
• PULSE International – many NHS Trusts recognise the difficulties in recruiting staff from overseas. PULSE’s global network offers bespoke end-to-end solutions and provides expert professional support to clients and candidates throughout the process.

Speaking at the NHS Employers' annual conference and exhibition 2009, Richard MacMillan, Chief Executive of PULSE said:

“Workforce optimisation and flexible working practices have a central role to play in helping meet the ambitious savings target for NHS expenditure. Innovative use of a flexible workforce in partnership with staffing providers offers a real solution.”

PULSE has a track record delivering significant savings whilst working as a trusted partner with NHS Trusts, Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and Strategic Health Authorities who use our Staffing Partners solutions.

PULSE Opens Its Doors to Canada and the US

Specialist healthcare staffing agency opens new branch in Toronto

25th September 2009

Specialist health and social care staffing agency PULSE has announced the launch of a new branch in Toronto for healthcare workers seeking jobs in both Canada and the United States.

PULSE has chosen Toronto as the location for its latest branch in response to the increasing demand for international work placements and shortage of medical professionals in Canada and the US.

A recent survey of health and social care workers across the globe, revealed that 4 out of 5 (82%) would consider progressing their career overseas, with Canada coming a close second in a league table of job hot spots.

The new branch will work with specialist health and social care professionals world-wide, placing them in both temporary and permanent roles. The opening forms a key part of PULSE’s plans for global expansion and will add to their international network of staffing services currently offered throughout the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East.

Richard MacMillan, CEO of PULSE says

“PULSE has developed an international staffing network, bringing together talent and sharing best practice from across the globe. Healthcare is becoming an increasingly global market and with a number of healthcare professionals looking to progress their career overseas”.

James Scott, Director of North American operations comments:

“Both the Canadian and US Governments have healthcare system improvements right at the top of the agenda. With shortages of highly skilled personnel and ever increasing patient waiting lists, both have pledged substantial injections of funds into this sector. Due to a cap on the number of visas available in the US, a nurse applying to a US hospital from outside of the continent of North America can expect to wait up to 5 years to start work. As there are no such restrictions for healthcare staff migrating from Canada, we believe our presence in Toronto will offer a unique solution to place candidates in the US and the other markets we service.”

International healthcare staffing agency pulse wins hotly contested ‘excellence’ award!

June 9th, 2009

PULSE, a leading provider of healthcare staffing solutions, has been announced as Staffing Agency of the Year at this year’s Health Investor Awards. PULSE competed against stiff competition from four other well-known staffing agencies – all top of a sector that is bucking the downturn trend.

PULSE is now the fastest growing company placing highly-skilled health and social care professionals in temporary and permanent jobs, world-wide.

Health Investor Award judges said:

”PULSE has expanded astonishingly quickly in 2008 to become one of the biggest players in the market. It is improving quality in a very testing market where there is strong competition from a public sector alternative, offering broader options to Trusts which are seeking more flexibility in their workforce.”

Commenting on the win, CEO of Pulse, Richard MacMillan says:

“We are delighted to have won this award. We believe a large reason for such a successful year is down to the services that we offer above and beyond the average staffing agency across a diverse range of health and social care clients. In 2008, we grew our international business and launched our new brand PULSEBank, delivering safe, value for money flexible staffing arrangements to NHS Trusts. We are also investing in our web presence; pulsejobs.com now attracts over 80,000 visitors every month and provides new and efficient web services to clients.

“There is a growing recognition that flexible staff offer a cost effective way of optimising the workforce and increased demand for staff is being driven by government initiatives resulting from the EU Working Time Regulations and the worldwide shortage of skilled healthcare staff making the long term prospects of PULSE extremely strong."

The Health Investor Awards promote excellence and recognise innovation in the healthcare sector.

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust Celebrates PULSE Bank Success on International Nurses Day

12th May 2009, London

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust is today celebrating the first anniversary of its bank management contract for St Mary’s and Western Eye hospital sites with specialist healthcare staffing provider PULSE, on International Nurses’ Day.

International Nurses’ Day celebrates the vital contribution that nurses make to improving the quality of care, patient experience, health outcomes and the delivery of health services.

PULSE was awarded the contract by the St Mary’s and Western Eye sites at Imperial last year to provide temporary cover to fill increases in demand for nursing staff and midwives. To celebrate the success of the service, PULSEBank is holding a series of recruitment sessions on International Nurses’ Day and will be donating £20 to Trust charity - Friends of St Mary’s - for each nurse who registers with PULSE on the day. The money raised will support the staff of the hospitals in maintaining the highest standards of care through investment in patient facilities, training, research and innovative therapies.

PULSEBank makes the process of booking shifts for both staff and nurses easier by offering an electronic end-to-end solution. All staff registered to the Bank are fully security checked and receive mandatory training to ensure that only competent and qualified professionals are responsible for the treatment of patients. Users of the system at the St Mary’s and Western Eye hospital sites at Imperial have access to a large pool of staff and are able to narrow their search by individual candidate, specialism or availability.

Instant access to healthcare professionals provided by PULSEBank make it easier for the Trust to manage their nurse staffing arrangements and plan ahead, minimising disruption to services caused by staff shortages. Around two thirds of recruits on the Bank are nurses, midwives or healthcare assistants who are already employed on a permanent basis at the Trust but are helping meet patient waiting targets by signing up for extra shifts during busy periods.

Jenny Parr, Associate Director of Nursing Workforce said: “We are a huge, busy organisation and temporary staff are a vital part of our staffing resource. They help maintain flexibility and support services when demand is at a peak. PULSE has provided a very reliable service in the past year and continue to build on performance and even more of our staff have signed up to undertake temporary shifts, if and when needed. But there is a need to constantly recruit, as our services become busier and busier."

Steve Twelftree, contract director at PULSE said: “We have developed a real partnership with the Trust over the last year and look forward to continuing this relationship moving forward. We are proud to mark our first anniversary and to celebrate International Nurses’ Day, we will be donating £20 to the nominated charity for each nurse who registers with us through PULSEBank on that day.”

Commenting on PULSEBank, Twelftree continues:

“NHS Trusts face considerable pressures to achieve high standards of temporary staffing services. PULSE understands the recruitment challenges faced by the NHS and is committed to developing solutions to simplify the process of booking temporary staff. As well as ensuring that only competent and qualified staff treat patients the bank offers significant savings which can be ploughed back into healthcare services for the benefit of patients.”

Specialist staffing agency PULSE launches new engineering division

Specialist staffing agency PULSE has launched a new division dedicated to providing staffing solutions to the engineering sector.

The company’s new engineering division will offer candidates a range of positions from specialist technical roles such as professional Technical, Electronic, FMCG and Food engineers with commercial experience across the aerospace, defence, medical devices, FMCG, Food & Drink and other industries.

PULSE’s commitment to excellence and its proven ability to place highly skilled professionals in niche markets will also provide a key resource to employers who need to fill roles in this dynamic sector.

Richard MacMillan, CEO of PULSE comments:

“The launch of the engineering division is part of a wider diversification strategy built around high-growth business areas and will offer innovative staffing solutions to employers and candidates in the engineering sector.

“Whilst the UK labour market is generally in decline, the demand for professional skilled engineering staff to fill specialist technical roles is one of the few sectors where jobs still remain in both the private and public sectors. We look forward to building on the success of our scientific division and expect growth in the engineering sector in the longer term”

To support candidates in making the right decisions to achieve career success, PULSE has developed a new section on their site http://www.pulsejobs.com/uk/engineering/ In addition to the job search function; the engineering page will offer career advice to candidates including tips on CV preparation and interview techniques.

Dianne Ward, Head of Scientific & Engineering Recruitment for PULSE comments:

“Whilst the jobs market has become more competitive in the current economic climate, there are still opportunities out there for skilled engineering professionals.

“With this in mind, there has never been a more important time for candidates to really work hard at promoting their skills and experience. We work closely with our candidates to find suitable placements and support their career goals and the new site will offer advice to candidates on how to stand out from the crowd.”

Specialist healthcare staffing agency PULSE wins place in The Sunday Times list of 100 best companies to work for in 2009

Specialist healthcare staffing agency PULSE, has been awarded a place in The Sunday Times list of the 100 best companies to work for in 2009.

The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies Award recognises best practice in workplace management and identifies the top 100 companies to work for in the UK based on employee satisfaction. PULSE received Best Companies accreditation and competed against more than 300 businesses to achieve its place.

PULSE successfully passed the assessment of their performance in five key areas; leadership, internal communication, corporate social responsibility, employee welfare and professional development. During the judging process, PULSE employees were also interviewed on the values, principles and vision of the company. Satisfaction levels on workplace issues, management, pay and benefits were also assessed.

One of the key initiatives that led to PULSE’s inclusion in the top 100 companies list was the company’s commitment to recognising outstanding contributions in the workplace. The company hosts a variety of individual and team awards which recognise and reward success. The accolade was also awarded on the strength of PULSE’s flexible benefits package which includes subsidised sports activities, extra holiday entitlement and child care vouchers. In addition, PULSE is committed to the personal development of their staff and offers individual training programmes to each of its employees.

Richard MacMillan, chief executive of PULSE, comments:

“We are delighted to have received national recognition as one of the best companies to work for in the UK. This is the first time PULSE has entered the award and our success is testament to our commitment to professional development, corporate social responsibility and the welfare of our employees."

“Employee engagement is something that we view as being key to our success. PULSE has achieved 40% growth in the last year and we have increased our workforce by 20% as a result, becoming the fastest growing staffing agency in the healthcare sector. None of this could have been achieved without the hard work and support of our employees."

International Healthcase staffing agency PULSE shortlisted for industry excellence award

London, UK – February 16th, 2008 – PULSE, a leading provider of healthcare recruitment solutions, has been shortlisted in the prestigious Health Investor Awards. The specialist healthcare staffing agency, is competing against four other shortlisted recruitment agencies for the Staffing Agency of the Year Award.

PULSE is one of the leading healthcare recruitment agencies, supplying highly-skilled health and social care workers throughout the UK. With a track record of year-on-growth and history of success, PULSE is now the fastest growing company in its sector. With extensive UK and international operations, PULSE places specialist professionals in temporary and permanent jobs, world-wide. PULSE is ranked in the top three by market share across each clinical discipline, and has a developing reputation in the social care and scientific sectors. In addition to sophisticated staffing solutions, PULSE offers high value specialist services to employers and candidates.

Commenting on the nomination, CEO of Pulse, Richard MacMillan says: “We are delighted to have been nominated for this award, which recognises excellence in the provision of innovative staffing solutions. We work closely with our clients and candidates to find out how we can improve our services and provide solutions to their staffing needs. In 2008 we launched our new brand PULSEBank, delivering safe, value for money flexible staffing arrangements to NHS Trusts. This nomination demonstrates our ability to work closely with the NHS to share the benefits of improved process efficiencies which directly reduce costs of service delivery.”

The Health Investor Awards promote excellence and recognise innovation in the healthcare sector. The winners will be announced at the annual awards ceremony on June 3rd 2009.

Specialist Healthcase staffing agency PULSE awarded NHS PASA framework agreement

PULSE, a market-leading provider of healthcare recruitment solutions, is one of 50 agencies to be awarded the National Framework Agreement for the supply of temporary Allied Health Professionals (AHP) and Health Science Service (HSS) staff to all NHS bodies within the UK.

The contract, giving access to the £96m AHP/HSS market, will run for a period of three years, with a possible extension of a further 12 months.

PULSE successfully passed a supplier audit evaluation, pre-qualification stages and a competitive pricing round to secure the contract. During the selection process, PULSE was assessed on its capability to meet NHS standards, capacity to deliver and track record, including satisfactory customer references.

Agencies included in the agreement must meet stringent quality standards and are subject to rigorous independent audit by NHS PASA. Agencies who fail the audit process may be removed from the contract with immediate effect. The intention is to give NHS organisations the confidence that agencies signed up to the agreement will adhere to quality and security guidelines. In addition to the statutory requirements, temporary workers supplied by PULSE also receive mandatory training to ensure that only competent and qualified professionals are responsible for patient care.

Commenting on the contract, CEO at PULSE, Richard MacMillan said: “PULSE is pleased to have been awarded the NHS Framework Agreement for the supply of temporary Allied Health Professionals and Health Science Service staff to the NHS. It is concerning that there are a number of agencies operating outside the framework that fail to deliver the same level of safety and quality assurance checks that is required of agencies in the agreement. It is essential that patients are confident in the fact that the healthcare professional treating them has been carefully vetted and received the appropriate background checks. By choosing a agency on the framework agreement, NHS Trusts can ensure that only competent and qualified staff are responsible for the treatment of patients.”

New data reveals rise in midwife demand as Government tightens non-EU employment

Monday, 8th December 2008 - As the birth-rate in the UK continues to rise, new recruitment data reveals demand for midwives has increased by almost 20% over the last year. This comes at a time when midwifery is no longer among the professions included on the Government’s recently published list of jobs open to immigrants from outside the European Union.

Medical recruitment agency, PULSE, one of the UK’s largest providers of midwives to NHS Trusts and provider of this data, raises concerns that the UK is facing a shortfall in the number of qualified professionals to cater for this increase.

According to the Office of National Statistics, the birthrate has risen by 16 per cent — equivalent to 90,000 extra births — since 2001. This comes at a time when the Government has pledged 3,400 extra full-time midwifery posts - or 4,000 jobs when part-time workers are taken into account. Yet, the research, for the Darzi review into the NHS, shows a shortfall in England of 4,288 midwives which suggests an urgent need to address the current skills shortage.

Richard MacMillan, Chief Executive, PULSE, comments: "The Government has to recognise that we are facing an increasing need for qualified midwives for a number of reasons and now is not the time to restrict the valuable contribution that workers coming from overseas make. At the same time, it has to do more to attract homegrown talent into the profession as well as keep the ones that we already have. Midwives are under increasing pressure at work, largely due to their departments being severely under-resourced. A fact that no one can argue with is that better resourced midwives translate directly into better care for women and this has to be a top priority.”

A report out earlier this year revealed that every six minutes, a baby is born in the UK who needs specialist hospital care yet it found that the UK’s neonatal services are overstretched and understaffed. Leaving maternity units short staffed while birth rates are rising. The shortfall is estimated after comparing it with the NHS 'gold standard' for safer childbirth, which demands one midwife per 28 births. The worst shortages are in London where 1,150 more midwives are needed to meet a 20 per cent rise in the birthrate.

MacMillan concludes: "The shortage is often blamed on Trusts for freezing their recruitment, whereas our data suggests that Trusts fully recognise the need to recruit more, the fundamental problem is, the UK doesn’t have enough skills staff to fill the positions. There needs to be a concerted effort by government to tackle this shortfall in midwives so that all babies receive the highest quality of care. A clear, long-term and properly funded UK-wide strategy to recruit and retain more of midwives must become a high priority. Without such a strategy, babies and their parents will continue to miss out on the high-quality intensive care and vital information these nurses are able to provide."

Healthcare Bucking the Downward Trend

In response to the latest market data figures from the REC/KPMG Report on Jobs, Richard MacMillan, chief executive, PULSE, comments:

“Whilst the UK labour market is in decline, healthcare is one of the few sectors where jobs remain with the latest findings revealing that there has been a month on month increase in demand for staff.

The introduction of government legislation including the ’18 week pathway’ and ‘Releasing time to care’ initiatives has obviously led to a much stronger focus in the healthcare sector on increasing patient choice, improving health outcomes and reducing patient waiting times. NHS Trusts recognise the need to fully resource their workforce to help make meeting these targets a reality and this is a large reason for the demand. With changes to government legislation such as the Working Time Directive imminent, and staff shortages increasing in the sector, we expect this trend to continue and for there to be plenty of jobs for healthcare professionals as we move into 2009.”

PULSE Shortlisted For Prestigious Recruitment Industry Award

London, UK – October 6th, 2008 – PULSE, a leading provider of healthcare recruitment solutions, has been shortlisted in the prestigious National Online Recruitment Awards (NORA).

The specialist health, scientific and social care staffing agency, competed against 497 recruitment agencies in the awards to secure a place in the final five for the Best National Recruitment Agency Website Award.

PULSE is one of the leading healthcare recruitment agencies, supplying highly-skilled health and social care workers throughout the UK. With a track record of year-on-growth and history of success, PULSE is now the fastest growing company in its sector.

In addition to sophisticated staffing solutions, PULSE offers high value specialist services to employers and candidates through their online site. Visitors to the site receive a personalised profile, advice guides and access to the iPoint system, designed to simplify the recruitment process. The site contains a series of online tools including personalised job alerts and a ‘Refer and Earn’ scheme, whereby associates can earn cash bonuses through online recommendations.

Commenting on the nomination, CEO of Pulse, Richard MacMillan says: "We are delighted to have been nominated for this award. We work closely with our clients and candidates to find out how we can improve our services and have recently introduced Web 2.0 technologies to make the site more user friendly. More than 2,000 people per month register for work on pulsejobs.com and we consistently come top of the league for health and social care staff searching for jobs. This nomination demonstrates our ability to use our web presence to develop relationships with job seekers and clients, wherever they are in the world."

The NORA awards celebrate excellence in online recruitment and received over 63,000 candidate nominations, across the ten catergories. The awards are judged by an independent panel of recruitment experts and the winners will be announced at the annual awards ceremony on November 19th 2008.

Ends

For more information or to organise an interview, call Kellie Reed or Susanna Loughnane at Octopus Communications on 0845 37 00 655

Notes for editors:

About Pulse

PULSE is a leading health, scientific and social care and staffing business. With extensive UK and international operations, PULSE places specialist professionals in temporary and permanent jobs, world-wide. PULSE is ranked in the top three by market share across each clinical discipline, and has a developing reputation in the social care and scientific sectors. With a projected turnover for 2008 in excess of £140 million and demonstrating significant year on year growth, PULSE is currently the fastest growing company in its sector.

For more information on the awards please visit www.alljobsuk.com/awards

PULSE goes global with pulsejobs.com

Original Article - First Published 24-April-2008

PULSE today unveiled pulsejobs.com its new web site for connecting clients with a skilled base of health and social care professionals world-wide. Already attracting more than 60,000 visits a month to its UK site, PULSE consistently comes top of the league for health and social care staff searching for jobs.

Developed with web partner HotLizard, pulsejobs.com is a key strand of PULSE’s candidate attraction and retention strategy - a host of unique new features deliver a truly personalised web experience. Job alerts precisely suit each individual’s requirements and advanced search and categorisation allows each job seeker to target their perfect job. Sophisticated new features let PULSE workers submit timesheets and even claim rewards on-line whenever they successfully refer a friend. Clients will also find exciting benefits with a window to PULSE’s on-line booking system at their fingertips and individual country-specific areas of the website boosting access to international recruitment.

PULSE’s CEO, Richard MacMillan said: "Our site has already built an enviable reputation as one of the easiest to find on the web. This means that many health and social care professionals looking for jobs find PULSE first which gives us the pick of the best candidates. Taking customer views on board has influenced our new design and content. As a result, working with HotLizard, we have made our new site really interactive and user-friendly. Launching pulsejobs.com significantly extends our appeal to the international market. Across the world health and social care providers are experiencing significant skill and service gaps - the challenges and expense of recruiting highly skilled staff in-house has seen organisations exploring new options to meet their growing needs. Outsourcing recruitment has become a practical necessity for many and global demand for our staff has seen massive growth. PULSE’s is International Division is developing our capability to meet this demand and pulsejobs.com offers a new portal through which we can develop our relationship with job seekers and clients, wherever they are in the world."

HotLizard Managing Director, Adele Poole, comments “With PULSE, we have developed a close working relationship and understanding of their business. We ensure that we provide the level of advice and consultancy that enables them to derive ongoing business benefit and differentiation from their online presence.

PULSE is a leading health, social care and specialist staffing business. With extensive UK and international operations, PULSE places specialist professionals in temporary and permanent jobs, world-wide.

Richard MacMillan, PULSE CEO - 01992 474 901; richard.macmillan@pulsestaffing.co.uk
Kate Harris, PULSE Commercial Director – 07976 741 267; kate.harris@pulsestaffing.co.uk
Nicola Frazer-Reid, HotLizard - 01635 5327900; nicola.frazer-reid@hotlizard.net