'Lack of progress' in recruitment and retention of NHS and social care staff, MSPs warn

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The Scottish Government should be making more "positive progress" in recruiting and retaining NHS and social care staff, Holyrood's Health and Sport Committee has said.

The warning comes days after the Royal College of Nursing warned the vacancy rate for nursing and midwifery is up to 4.3 per cent in Scotland, up from 1 per cent in 2011.

ISD figures show a consultant vacancy rate of 7.5 per cent and a rate of 4.4 per cent for allied health professionals. There has also been fears over an ageing GP workforce.

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Health Secretary Shona Robison said there were record levels of staff working in the NHS and a new workforce plan to "deliver the right skills" will be published soon.

In a letter to Robison, the group of MSPs outline a number of barriers to recruitment and retention, including a lack of focus on allied health professionals and social care staff.

The committee suggests a national approach for non-controlled subjects, like the one in place for medicine, dentistry and nursing and midwifery.

"We are concerned that in the 11 years since the previous Health Committee raised concerns planning does not seem to have become more successful," they said.

The letter is the culmination of three evidence sessions held as a short inquiry into workforce planning.

Committee convener Neil Findlay MSP said: “Ensuring we have the right number of doctors, nurses and carers and other health professionals to look after the population is not an exact science. However, we would have expected some positive progress.

“Much attention has been given to concern around GP recruitment however, we heard of high vacancy rates for various health professionals. We are asking the Scottish Government what immediate steps it is taking to prevent this impacting on patient care.

“Whilst the implications of Brexit are largely unknown it is clear steps need to be taken now given that the figures suggest that EU nationals are fundamental to the successful running of our NHS and social care.”