Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today urged the SNP Government to finally combat pressures faced by nurses and midwives, after research by his party revealed that more than 600,000 days of nursing and midwifery staff time have been lost to mental ill health since 2020.
Freedom of information requests submitted by the Scottish Liberal Democrats to all of Scotland’s health boards revealed that:
Mr Cole-Hamilton said:
“It’s clear from these figures that staff are at breaking point. Nurses and midwives need solutions, not a decade of SNP mismanagement.
“The SNP have compounded pressures for nursing staff. The problem stretches all the way back to Nicola Sturgeon cutting nursing training places and claiming that was ‘sensible.’
“There has been zero sign of action to resolve this from the Health Secretary The SNP and Greens have repeatedly opposed my party’s call for a plan to address staff burnout. They have shown pig-headed contempt for a strategy that would guarantee annual leave, ensure safe staffing levels and champion the expertise of those who know our health service best.
“It’s little wonder they’re now finding it harder than ever to attract and retain new staff.
“Scottish Liberal Democrats will provide new hope for nurses and midwives. I want them to know that my party is in their corner.”