Nurses -
4 months ago
NHS Staff Shortages: A Snapshot
Earlier this month, the Conservative Party Conference took place in Birmingham, with Secretary of State Matt Hancock taking to the stage to discuss the NHS at 70 and his plans to secure its future. Grabbing the headlines was the £240m he pledged for social care in England so that the NHS can better cope with winter pressures. Hancock stated the money would help more people “who don’t need to be in the hospital but do need care”. The health secretary also added that he was in the process of writing a long-term plan for the NHS to “guarantee its future”. Notably absent from the speech was staff shortages. Acting RCN Chief Executive Dame Donna Kinnair responded: “If this speech was intended to show the Government’s plan for the NHS, it has scarce little to say about the scores of unfilled jobs in every healthcare profession. The right number of staff with the right skills are the key to effective patient care, and without enough nurses, so much of what was promised in the speech looks simply undeliverable.” Hancock claimed that there are “12,000 more nurses on our wards” and “14,000 more doctors”, while figures from the Royal College of Nursing revealed there are 40,000+ registered nurse vacancies with more nurses leaving the profession than joining. And, while Hancock discussed the benefits of new technology at the conference, something for which almost half a billion pounds has been pledged, it’s unlikely to provide an immediate solution for staffing shortages. On this, Dame Donna Kinnair commented: “Technology may help increase efficiency, but it in no way compensates for having enough nurses on shift to keep patients safe. And preventative services, vital to keep people healthy for longer, require nurses with the right skills to make them work. Yet we see patients turned away from understaffed sexual health clinics as STI rates soar.” NHS staff shortages overview (reported at the end of June)* Health service = 107,743 unfilled posts. Up 9,268 on the previous three months. Nurses = 41,722 vacant posts, 11.8% of the entire nursing workforce. 17% increase on the previous three months. Doctors = 11,576 unfilled posts across all types of NHS services, 9.3% vacant posts across England. Record increase on the 9,982 vacant posts three months before. [*Figures from NHS Improvement] “The answer to these problems is a comprehensive workforce plan focused on recruitment and retention, that links population need to staff numbers,” stated Dame Donna Kinnair. “This must be underpinned by legislation that holds decision-makers to account for safe staffing levels. Nursing can offer great career pathways, but it needs investment to make it attractive.” For insights and commentary related to the NHS and staff shortages, stay tuned to the MCM Medical blog and our social channels.
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