Nursing and midwifery vacancies in Dumfries and Galloway have nearly trebled in six months as a “staffing crisis” worsens.
New NHS Scotland workforce data reveals there were 100 whole-time equivalent (WTE) posts unfilled on March 31 of this year but that figure rose to 274 at the end of September.
The figures have alarmed MSP Colin Smyth who said: “Our health and care services are on the brink of collapse, and we know it will get worse as the cold weather bites.
“This staffing crisis is at the heart of this catastrophe. Our NHS workers are performing heroics, working flat-out but we know there are just not enough of them and this high number of vacancies simply adds pressure to our already exhausted nurses.
“What makes me angry is the fact the pandemic may have exasperated the recruitment crisis, but it didn’t cause it. It has been there for years and Covid has simply exposed the lack of action to tackle it.
“We all clapped for our NHS workers at the height of lockdown but what they need is fair pay and the resources to do the job they want to do and that’s care for our loved ones.”
The Royal College of Nursing Scotland is also calling for more Holyrood Government investment to tackle the staffing issue.
Its interim director Colin Poolman said: “These worrying statistics show that the staffing crisis in our NHS continues to deteriorate.
“Nursing staff have never been under greater pressure and with so many vacancies adding to this, work-related absences is on the rise and significant numbers of experienced nursing staff are considering leaving the profession.
“The Scottish Government has the opportunity to act now. They must fund a fair pay rise for nursing staff and fully implement the safe staffing legislation.”
RCN Scotland is in a dispute with the Scottish Government after members rejected the NHS pay offer for 2021/22 saying it didn’t tackle recruitment and retention, with overwhelming support for industrial action among members.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “Staffing levels across NHS Scotland have reached a new record high after an increase of over 7,500 whole time equivalent staff in the last year.
“But we’re under no illusions there is still much more work to be done to enhance the workforce and to support staff to deal with the ongoing challenges of the pandemic.”
According to NHS Dumfries and Galloway there were vacancies for approximately 59 registered general nurses and 34 health care support workers at the start of October.
A health board spokesperson said: “Recruitment to post is a long-standing and well-publicised challenge, and the primary factor around current vacancies is an older staff profile within the region and consequent retirements.
“These numbers are restricted by the limited accommodation available in the region to house the new recruits but we are confident with the work we are doing to attract to posts that our efforts will make a real difference to the Dumfries and Galloway workforce.”
