NHS faces crisis in nurse numbers
21 May 2014
NHS employers are struggling to recruit nurses, with around 10% of nursing posts in the health service are being left vacant, according to a new report published by Health Education England.
Wed, 21 May 2014NHS employers are struggling to recruit nurses, with around 10% of nursing posts in the health service are being left vacant, according to a new report published by Health Education England.
The figures in the report indicate that most health service organisations in England are experiencing shortages in the supply of qualified nurses, at a time when there is increasing awareness of the link between nurse staffing levels and patient care.
The survey found that 83% of organisations currently have a shortage of nurses. Many organisations (45%) have actively tried to recruit outside the UK over the past year to fill vacancies, and 51% are considering doing this over the next 12 months.
Commenting on the report, Dr Peter Carter, chief executive & general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), says: “This is further evidence of the crisis in nurse numbers facing the NHS.
"RCN research in November found a vacancy rate in nursing posts of 6%, while these figures from the start of 2014 appear to show a 10% vacancy rate. More than half of respondents are considering recruiting nurses from abroad because there are not enough in the UK.”
Andrew Preston, managing director of de Poel Clarity, the independent vendor neutral company that manages temporary workforces in the NHS and private health and care, told Recruiter that it is a positive move that “all hospitals now have to report their staffing levels to ensure they adhere to safe staffing guidelines”.
“To ensure that we have a strategy to address future NHS needs, it is important to develop the next generation of healthcare staff by emphasising nursing roles and skills to individuals preparing to enter the sector,” Preston adds.
The figures in the report indicate that most health service organisations in England are experiencing shortages in the supply of qualified nurses, at a time when there is increasing awareness of the link between nurse staffing levels and patient care.
The survey found that 83% of organisations currently have a shortage of nurses. Many organisations (45%) have actively tried to recruit outside the UK over the past year to fill vacancies, and 51% are considering doing this over the next 12 months.
Commenting on the report, Dr Peter Carter, chief executive & general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), says: “This is further evidence of the crisis in nurse numbers facing the NHS.
"RCN research in November found a vacancy rate in nursing posts of 6%, while these figures from the start of 2014 appear to show a 10% vacancy rate. More than half of respondents are considering recruiting nurses from abroad because there are not enough in the UK.”
Andrew Preston, managing director of de Poel Clarity, the independent vendor neutral company that manages temporary workforces in the NHS and private health and care, told Recruiter that it is a positive move that “all hospitals now have to report their staffing levels to ensure they adhere to safe staffing guidelines”.
“To ensure that we have a strategy to address future NHS needs, it is important to develop the next generation of healthcare staff by emphasising nursing roles and skills to individuals preparing to enter the sector,” Preston adds.
