Medical staff agency Medacs has reported a 38 per cent increase in turnover to £45 million.

The Skipton-based company holds more contracts within medical recruitment in the UK than any other company, and lists Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke's Hospital among its clients.

Managing director David Jones said developments in the delivery of services had contributed to the figures for the year 2000.

He said: "This has been an exciting year for Medacs, in which we have radically changed the way we operate.

"We have created specialist teams dedicated to customer placement and client care and the financial results speak for themselves.

"We have just won eight major contracts in our core locum business and developed activity within our forensics placements."

The company has also launched a website which Mr Jones said allowed clients to advertise their staffing needs "within minutes" of a vacancy arising.

He said: "The website has not only attracted more doctors looking for locum work, but has also streamlined the registration process of new personnel with doctors now able to register online.

"We have achieved such unprecedented growth by training and developing our staff, by restructuring our operation to ensure the most professional, accessible service, and by investing in pioneering technology."

Medacs Healthcare Services is part of the Blue Arrow Healthcare Group, one of the largest recruitment businesses in the UK.

The company itself is the UK's leading supplier of healthcare professionals, providing permanent and temporary staff to NHS and private hospitals, councils and private businesses.