Nursing and midwifery vacancies rise by more than 50% in just 6 months

Responding to new NHS workforce statistics showing that there were 3,227 nursing and midwifery vacancies as at the quarter ending June 2025, which represents a 51.6% increase since December, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

“This hugely troubling rise stems all the way back to Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP cutting training places and claiming that was ‘sensible’.

“In the years that followed, staff have been run ragged. Exhausted and demoralised, they are struggling to provide the high-quality care patients need, and many are reaching for the door.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats want better for our nurses and midwives so we can deliver first-rate healthcare to everyone. That’s why we have a realistic plan to tackle burnout and prioritise the recruitment and retention of hardworking staff.”