26,000 hours worth of staff time was taken up by events put on by NHS staff networks in less than 12 months, a TaxPayers' Alliance investigation has revealed, with the actual figure likely to be higher. One event was a talk titled "coping with news anxiety" which was attended by 40 people.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, which published the findings, our chief executive John O'Connell said:
"Health bosses were warned about the cost placed on the NHS by staff networks.
"Yet still these groups are taking up vast amounts of staff time, while waiting lists show little sign of coming down.
"Ministers need to step in and rein in some of these groups."