BARNSLEY East MP Stephanie Peacock has questioned the government on staffing figures and workforce plans for the NHS.
Figures released by the Royal College of Physicians show an increasing strain on the NHS, with staff shortages in a number of key areas.
They show 43 per cent of advertised consultant posts in Yorkshire in the last year were not filled.
In addition, more than one third of the consultants currently working in the NHS in Yorkshire will reach the planned retirement age in the next decade.
Stephanie asked for further workforce statistics and details of the government’s plans to tackle an ageing staff.
She said: “Tory mismanagement of our beloved NHS has had a devastating impact on both patients and staff alike.
“The figures show that here in our region, vast numbers of key positions in our NHS remain unfilled, whilst an ageing workforce will place even more pressure on an already strained health service.
“The government has consistently failed to ensure new recruits are brought through in vital areas, whilst chronic underfunding, the NHS pay cap and the end to the NHS bursary have helped contribute to a workforce crisis of their own making.
“I’ve demanded details from the government on their plans for our NHS workforce, and I’ll continue to hold them account and push for a sustainable long-term plan our NHS desperately needs.”
