IPSE (the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed) has today called for the government to urgently reconsider the vital role that specialist contractors and freelancers play in resourcing within the NHS.
Chief Executive, Derek Cribb, said: “As the NHS turns seventy-five it is important that we recognise the role that freelance specialists have played in ensuring services are delivered. The external expertise and additional capacity that freelancers bring ultimately help the organisation operate more efficiently.
“Unfortunately, in recent years, freelancers have found it increasingly difficult to access roles within the NHS. IR35 and other compliance burdens often act as a barrier to efficient workforce management and should be more properly considered by the NHS leadership.”
In 2017 the government changed the IR35 rules which resulted in NHS trusts, and other public sector bodies, facing huge potential tax liabilities when hiring external specialists. IPSE believes this has exacerbated staff shortages and resulted in longer waiting times for patients.
Cribb continued, “Working alongside permanent staff, freelancers help organisations to manage peaks and troughs in demand and improve the quality of service. The NHS is no different. The flexible workforce can help to power the NHS for another seventy-five years but we must remove barriers which prevent effective staffing.”
From April 2026, sole traders can claim 55p per mile for business car use. Here's how to make sure you're claiming the right amount.
If you use your own vehicle for business purposes, the rules just got more generous. From April 2026, the tax-free mileage rate for cars and vans has risen by 10p...
The approved mileage rate has risen to 55p per mile for the self-employed. Here is what changed, what it means for your tax bill and what to do next.
