Nursing and midwifery vacancies stubbornly high

Responding to new NHS Scotland workforce statistics showing that there are 5,616 nursing and midwifery vacancies, an increase from last quarter, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:  

“Nursing and midwifery vacancies remain stubbornly high.  

“The problem stretches all the way back to Nicola Sturgeon cutting training places and claiming that was ‘sensible.’ Now, staff are beyond breaking point.  

“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.”