Neutral vendor managed services
Neutral vendor support to reduce agency spend and improve control
Litmus partners with NHS trusts and health boards to manage agency supply, strengthen rate adherence and deliver better temporary staffing value.
Neutral vendor agency management
Bringing rate control, compliance and process efficiency together in a value-added model
Litmus is a framework-approved neutral vendor, helping NHS trusts and health boards reduce agency reliance and bring measurable control to temporary staffing spend.
As a neutral vendor, we release shifts to an engaged network of framework-approved agency partners, driving competition on quality and rate while strengthening adherence to agreed rate cards, approval routes and NHS agency rules.
Our specialist teams provide the operational grip, reporting and service visibility needed to support safe, compliant and cost-effective temporary staffing.
We can help you to
- Lower temporary staffing spend
- Ensure contingency-only agency use
- Strengthen rate and commission control
- Streamline processes and invoicing
- Maximise direct engagement savings
Why choose neutral vendor agency management?
For NHS trusts and health boards under pressure to reduce temporary staffing spend, a neutral vendor model can deliver stronger value by widening market access, increasing supplier competition and giving teams clearer control over agency use.
Rather than simply processing agency demand, the model is designed to challenge cost, strengthen adherence to agreed rate cards and ensure agency is used only where necessary.
Litmus’ neutral vendor service brings together clear approval routes, active supplier management and transparent reporting to reduce avoidable cost and improve spend visibility. It also helps identify recurring areas of temporary demand, supporting more sustainable workforce use.
Joined-Up Control
Greater value is unlocked when neutral vendor agency and staff bank management are delivered together with a single joined-up model and aligned controls across all staffing groups.
Why Litmus
Why Litmus
✓
REDUCED AGENCY RELIANCE
Agency use is carefully aligned to demand and risk, helping NHS teams reduce unnecessary agency dependency without compromising service continuity.
✓
LOWER TEMPORARY STAFFING SPEND
Active rate and demand management helps reduce avoidable cost, strengthen adherence to agreed rate cards and support wider cost improvement goals.
✓
GREATER SUPPLIER COMPETITION
An engaged network of 170+ framework-approved agency partners improves access to compliant supply, with regular performance monitoring to support quality, fill and value.
✓
IMPROVED PROCESS EFFICIENCY
One streamlined route for supplier engagement, compliance, reporting and consolidated invoicing reduces administration for NHS teams.
✓
STRONGER SERVICE VISIBILITY
Transparent reporting gives workforce and finance leaders the insight needed to track fill, compliance, savings and temporary staffing spend drivers.
✓
EXISTING NHS SYSTEMS OPTIMISED
Litmus works with established NHS systems and processes, improving control without unnecessary additional technology.
Featured case study
Significant savings, harmonised rates and proactive control
A clear example of Litmus can support to manage temporary workforce use across a large collaborative group, reducing staffing costs and controlling rates.
NHS west of scotland health board
Managing and optimising temporary medical staffing for 5x health boards
“Litmus has delivered substantial value, driving savings and embedding better procedures, supporting our ongoing efforts to improve collaboration across Health Boards in the West of Scotland region.”
Director of Workforce, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (Lead Health Board)
Litmus brought in a larger team and added specialist agencies to the supply chain, increasing fill rates to 95%. Staffing costs were significantly reduced by successfully introducing new harmonised regional rate cards and fixed commission charges.
Results delivered
£6.7mannual saving
95%fill rate
51%of bookings at reduced rates
What our partners have to say
“Litmus work very hard to meet our requirements and have quickly become a valued partner for the Trust, consistently increasing our fill rates. The team is efficient, taking a proactive approach and we value their support and guidance on a wide range of complex workforce issues.”
Resourcing Manager
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
“Fantastic piece of partnership working and a demonstration of how a successful implementation should run.”
Head of Resourcing
Bristol & Weston University NHS Foundation Trust
“The Litmus team have transformed our approach to temporary staffing, delivering significant savings and substantially reducing rates whilst achieving a consistently high fill rate of over 97%.”
Director of HR and OD
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
“In the first year, Litmus has delivered substantial value, driving savings, embedding better procedures and supporting our ongoing efforts to improve collaboration across the West of Scotland region.”
Director of Workforce
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (Lead Authority)
FAQs
Neutral Vendor FAQs
How do fees for neutral vendor and master vendor agency management compare?
Neutral vendor fees can appear higher on a like-for-like basis, but typically deliver greater overall value through wider supplier competition, stronger rate control and tighter demand management.
Can we combine a neutral vendor service with a managed staff bank?
Yes. Many NHS partners benefit from a joined-up Litmus model across bank and agency, with aligned controls, consistent rate strategy and enhanced value through a more efficient commercial structure.
How does Litmus maintain supplier quality and compliance?
Litmus takes a robust approach to supplier management, including stringent screening, defined KPIs and quarterly performance audits – ensuring full NHS compliance and consistent supplier performance.
Talk to Litmus
Need stronger control of agency supply and spend?
Speak to Litmus about neutral vendor support that helps improve control, strengthen rate adherence and reduce avoidable temporary staffing cost.
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