The reference published in April
NHS England’s agency price-card publication was first published on 5 April 2024. The publication sets out agency price caps and has been updated for later financial years. Its history is an example of why temporary staffing teams need to preserve effective dates and distinguish a document’s original publication from the version currently in force.
This article does not reproduce price figures or tell a provider which rate applies today. Our operational interpretation is that changing guidance creates a record-management task: identify the approved reference, explain where it is used and make an exception visible to the person authorised to decide it.
Which version is this booking using?
Temporary staffing arrangements involve more than one number. The worker’s pay, the agreed charge, relevant allowances and the approving manager’s decision can appear in different systems. A rushed desk can accidentally copy a previous booking without checking whether the role, period or approval basis is the same.
Version control needs to work across handovers. If an updated reference is stored only in one person’s inbox, colleagues covering evenings may use an older sheet. Teams should know where the authoritative record sits, when a change takes effect and how to escalate an apparent mismatch before presenting a commitment as confirmed.
Make the effective date part of the handover
Key Med can support bookings administration and pay-and-bill coordination using client-approved rate tables and authorisation rules. We can maintain change logs, organise confirmation records and prepare exceptions for review. We do not set NHS caps or determine entitlement; the client remains responsible for applying the relevant rules and approving commercial terms.
A practical review starts with a sample of amended bookings. Trace the original request, the rate reference, the approval and any later change through to the invoice preparation. Agree what evidence is required at each step and who can resolve discrepancies. This gives the staffing desk a clearer process while reducing dependence on memory and copied spreadsheets.
The source material
- Agency price card ↗NHS England · 2024-04-05
Retrospective briefing · Published 4 November 2026. Historical figures and measures describe their period; consult current official guidance before acting. This article provides operational context. Legal, immigration, clinical and financial decisions need the responsible organisation’s qualified advisers.
