Demand for NHS contractors is soaring despite the economic downturn, according to NHS recruitment specialist Max20.
Don Tomlinson, managing director of Max20, says recruiters are competing over the best information management and technology (IM&T) professionals, especially at more senior levels.
In addition to placing IM&T professionals into new roles, Tomlinson said contract extensions are also popular.
He added: ''Clinical Commissioning Groups and Health Informatics Services organisations are driving the commercialisation of the NHS, making it more effective through IM&T, and in so doing fueling the demand for talented professionals.
''At one time NHS experience was nearly always demanded to pursue opportunities in the organisation, which is no longer the case for many roles.''
Tomlinson said the more competitive salaries, more experience of working together with contractors, cutting edge projects, supportive environments and the community aspect of the NHS makes it a different proposition to when it first started working with contractors.
''Our challenge is to get the range and numbers of opportunities over to those members of the IT professional community that might be struggling to secure good opportunities and wages. The old ideas about working in the NHS still linger and we have got to change that view,'' he said.
The recent growth in interim positions is in line with Max20's own growth in revenue. The company saw a rise of 18% in year-on-year turnover hitting GBP 5.7m, the highest in 12 years for the firm.
