Cole-Hamilton comments on RCN report warning a third of nurses considering leaving

Commenting on the latest Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Scotland State of the Profession report which notes that there were over 2,800 posts unfilled at the end of September, over a third of respondents (37%) said they are actively planning on or thinking about leaving the profession and almost three quarters (74%) of those said that feeling undervalued is a key reason for thinking about leaving, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

“For years, the Scottish Liberal Democrats have warned about the intense strain NHS staff are under.

“When nurses are exhausted and overwhelmed, they simply can’t deliver the standard of care patients deserve.

“Scotland should expect better. SNP health secretaries may come and go, but the situation has not improved on their watch. Mental health continues to be sidelined as a lesser priority.

“The government needs to put recruitment and retention front and centre to stop burnout and ensure every shift is properly staffed.

“I want both staff and patients to know that my party stands with them and has a credible plan to make real progress. We want to provide top-quality healthcare and end the relentless pressure on staff so people can access a GP, dentist or mental health support when they need it.

“The coming election is an opportunity for change with fairness at its heart and with the Scottish Liberal Democrats, you can vote for it.”