Nursing and midwifery vacancies make for worrying reading

Responding to new NHS Scotland workforce statistics showing that there are 5,447 nursing and midwifery vacancies, making this the fourth quarter in a row where the number of vacancies is over 5,000, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:  

“Nursing and midwifery vacancies are still far too high. As we fast approach another winter crisis for our NHS, these figures make for deeply worrying reading.    

“The problem stretches all the way back to Nicola Sturgeon cutting training places and claiming that was ‘sensible.’ Now, staff are beyond breaking point, with no sign of action from the Health Secretary to resolve this.  

“Scottish Liberal Democrats would deliver the proper implementation of the safe staffing legislation that Parliament agreed years ago. We also need an urgent strategy that will combat burnout among staff- a plan the SNP/Green Government were wrong to vote down.”