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NHS staff vacancies up 10% in last year with tens of thousands of roles left unfilled NHS staff vacancies up 10% in last year with tens of thousands of roles left unfilled
(35 minutes later)
The number of NHS staff vacancies in England jumped by 10 per cent in the last year, with tens of thousands of posts left unfilled, official figures have revealed.The number of NHS staff vacancies in England jumped by 10 per cent in the last year, with tens of thousands of posts left unfilled, official figures have revealed.
In March this year, there were 30,613 vacant full-time NHS positions being advertised, compared to 26,424 in the same month in 2016, and 26,406 in 2015.In March this year, there were 30,613 vacant full-time NHS positions being advertised, compared to 26,424 in the same month in 2016, and 26,406 in 2015.
Nearly 40 per cent of the vacancies in March 2017, 11,485 in total, were for nursing and midwifery positions – with nurses warning patient safety is suffering as people are deterred from becoming nurses by “low pay, relentless pressure and new training costs”.Nearly 40 per cent of the vacancies in March 2017, 11,485 in total, were for nursing and midwifery positions – with nurses warning patient safety is suffering as people are deterred from becoming nurses by “low pay, relentless pressure and new training costs”.
The new figures show that the average nursing and midwifery role advertised in the NHS is only drawing three applications. The new figures show that the average NHS nursing and midwifery role is only drawing three applications.
“At the very moment the NHS needs to be recruiting more nursing staff, we learn the number is falling and the NHS finds itself advertising for more jobs we know it cannot fill,” said Janet Davies, head of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).“At the very moment the NHS needs to be recruiting more nursing staff, we learn the number is falling and the NHS finds itself advertising for more jobs we know it cannot fill,” said Janet Davies, head of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).
“A lethal cocktail of factors is resulting in too few nurses and patient care is suffering. The Government desperately needs to keep the experienced staff still working in the NHS.”“A lethal cocktail of factors is resulting in too few nurses and patient care is suffering. The Government desperately needs to keep the experienced staff still working in the NHS.”
Nurses have threatened to strike for the first time in history over staff shortages and low pay, with the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) calling the Government’s decision not to scrap a 1 per cent pay freeze for NHS staff “a bitter disappointment”. Nurses have threatened to strike for the first time in history over staff shortages and low pay, with the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) calling the Government’s decision not to scrap a 1 per cent pay freeze for NHS staff “a bitter disappointment”. The RCN has announced a series of protests over working conditions this summer.
The RCN has announced a series of protests over working conditions this summer, warning that low pay is fuelling a recruitment and retention crisis and risking patient safety. The figures come as England chief inspector of hospitals warned that Brexit poses a "threat" to the NHS workforce, as the health service struggles to recruit enough nurses, doctors and support staff from EU countries.
Professor Sir Mike Richards told the BBC there is "no doubt that the workforce of the NHS and indeed the care system generally is absolutely critical and we do need to have more staff".
But "if we are leaving the EU there is a threat to that, which we need to make sure is being dealt with so that we are not losing staff and we can then replace them if necessary to grow our own, if you like".
Senior NHS managers have said recruitment problems are the largest challenge they face, due to shortfalls in training enough staff,  The Independent has learned.
Ongoing uncertainty over Brexit, pressures faced by staff and failure to train enough staff to meet demand were cited as reasons behind alleged problems in recruitment and retention.
Liberal Democrat shadow health secretary Norman Lamb said "the NHS is finding it harder and harder to recruit the staff it needs, yet still this government is refusing to end years of cuts to pay".
A Department of Health spokesperson said: “Staffing is a priority - that's why we have invested in the frontline and there are almost 32,400 more professionally qualified clinical staff including almost 11,800 more doctors, and over 12,500 more nurses on our wards since May 2010.”A Department of Health spokesperson said: “Staffing is a priority - that's why we have invested in the frontline and there are almost 32,400 more professionally qualified clinical staff including almost 11,800 more doctors, and over 12,500 more nurses on our wards since May 2010.”