Union bosses are demanding action to tackle a shortage of nurses across the region.
NHS Dumfries and Galloway is one of three Scottish health boards where more than one in 10 nursing and midwifery posts are currently unfilled.
The latest statistics on the country’s NHS workforce also reveal that the number of vacant nursing and midwifery posts has risen from 4,494 at the end of March to 4,845 at the end of June – a record high.
The number of mental health nursing posts unfilled across the region is also at a record high of 874.
The chairman of the board of the Royal College of Nursing Scotland, Julie Lamberth, said: “It is deeply worrying to have record numbers of nursing vacancies at a time when Covid cases are on the rise.
“Nursing staff across hospital and community services are under significant pressure trying to maintain services while being conscious that the number of people waiting for treatment is growing each day.
“The Scottish Government will be unable to meet its aspiration to increase activity by 10 per cent with more than 4,800 nursing and midwifery posts left unfilled. “
But Health Secretary Humza Yousaf insisted: “NHS Scotland staffing levels are at a record high, up by over 20 per cent under this Government. This includes 11.7 per cent more qualified nurses and midwives working in our NHS.
“Over nine consecutive years, for the year to June, qualified nursing and midwifery numbers have grown and we have also steadily increased places on undergraduate nursing courses.”
He added: “Despite consistent NHS workforce growth over nine years, it is common for vacancies to increase in the quarter to June.
“This period coincides with end of financial year retirements and directly precedes autumn graduate recruitment.
“We acknowledge that the current situation makes the practical task of recruiting staff more challenging for boards.
“This includes a commitment to provide £11 million for new national and international recruitment campaigns and to establish a national Centre for Workforce Supply.”
