THERE was a shortage of more than 140 nurses and midwives at Barnsley Hospital last year, new figures have revealed.
Statistics from NHS Digital reveal the number of vacant nursing jobs reached a new high in the quarter ending September 2017, with 2009 vacant NHS nurse and midwifery posts advertised in Yorkshire and Humber - an increase of some 150 on the previous quarter.
In Barnsley, 141 nursing and midwife vacancies were advertised between April 1 and September 30 last year. There were also 68 medical and dental positions advertised and 77 posts in additional clinical services advertised.
Overall, 418 positions were advertised in areas including admin and clerical, estates and ancillary, healthcare scientists and allied health professionals.
The figures come after analysis last week revealed that more nursing staff are leaving the NHS than joining it. The latest data shows the NHS in Yorkshire and Humber hired just 511 nurses for the 1,859 advertised posts (27 per cent).
Glenn Turp, regional director of the Royal College of Nursing in Yorkshire, said: “These figures are a glaring reminder that the NHS is desperately short of nurses.
“Record pressure, lack of funding and poor pay are actively discouraging the next generation of British nurses. The NHS has never been busier and is losing highly experienced and skilled nurses far quicker than it can find and train new ones. Earlier cuts to training places are exacerbating the problem, whilst cutting the nurse bursary is deterring others from thinking of becoming a nurse just as long-serving staff are feeling demoralised and pushed to leave nursing.
“The government cannot deny the staffing crisis in the NHS any longer.”
Janet Davies, chief executive and general secretary of the RCN, said: “When the government allows nursing on the cheap, patients can pay the highest price. It is time to draw a line under this false economy with urgent investment in services and those who provide them including a pay rise above inflation and legislation to make ,inisters accountable for workforce planning and safe staffing levels.”
A hospital spokesman said: “As a trust, we value all our members of staff and the contribution they make to patient care and experience. While we have nursing vacancies across the trust, these are not higher than we would expect in a trust which employs in excess of 3,500 staff.
“We monitor the reasons why staff are leaving, however expect a natural rotation of workforce as people either progress through their careers or retire. We are working closely with local university providers to ensure students have a good experience and therefore choose to work at Barnsley once qualified and in developing new routes into nursing including training nurse associates.
“We monitor and report on nurse staffing levels on a monthly basis to the trust board and are working hard to ensure that we have initiatives in place such as flexible working and preceptorship for the newly qualified to ensure that staff are retained. We are proud to be one of the largest employers in the region.”
