06.03.18
BMA calls for more recruitment of consultants despite Scottish NHS workforce hitting record levels
The BMA has called on the Scottish Government to improve its recruitment of consultants in spite of new reports which show the overall number of NHS staff in the country is increasing.
Quarterly figures released today show a rising percentage of vacancies – from 370 to 408 – with the majority remaining unfilled for over six months at a time.
In comparison, the total number of staff across the entirety of the workforce has hit a record 140,000, driven by a boost in nurses and midwives in both community and hospital care.
However, the drop in consultants has prompted BMA Scotland’s consultants committee chair Simon Barker to question the government’s policies.
“Every vacant position represents a massive hole in the medical workforce,” he said. “It puts enormous pressure on other staff as we struggle to try and cover for the work that would be done if these posts were filled.
“Despite the best efforts of NHS staff, that often has a direct impact on our patients who may have to wait longer or travel further for treatment. With almost two-thirds of consultant vacancies lying empty for six months or more, it is clear that the recruitment difficulties in the NHS are a long-term problem rather than a temporary difficulty.
“It is long past time to see substantive action taken to make Scotland a more attractive place for consultants to come and work.”
The complaints come after Scottish health secretary Shona Robison applauded the general improvements shown across the country’s NHS.
“Under this government, staffing in Scotland’s NHS has risen to record highs, and we’ve seen a particular increase in the number of qualified nurses and midwives delivering care for Scots up and down the country,” she commented.
“We will deliver an additional 2,600 extra nursing and midwifery training places by 2021 and these extra staff will ensure people all across Scotland get the high-quality NHS services that they rightly expect.
“With demand on our NHS rising we’re committed to both record investment in our health service and ensuring that new safe staffing legislation is introduced to help deliver the right staff, with the right skills, in the right place, long into the future.”
Top image: georgeclerk
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