New research has shown that the NHS could benefit from use of more flexible workers, such as IT contractors.

A paper published by SMART has shown that inefficiency in the health service is costing the taxpayer £150 million each year.

The installation of proper workforce management systems, which ensure the effective use of staff, could save the public sector body significant amounts, SMART claims.

Tristan Spencer, the firm's health marketing director, notes that the NHS is under huge pressure to reduce costs, so measures like this need to be considered.

"With the proven savings to be made by rolling out integrated workforce management systems, and the other benefits that these systems provide, it is hard to see why trusts would not make implementation a priority," he said.

Research firm Gartner recently found that up to 40 per cent of private companies are looking to increase their spending on external IT services this year.