No escaping chronic workforce shortages

The latest NHS Digital workforce vacancy data shows that in December 2021, overall staff vacancies in England topped 110,000 for the first time, with over 20,000 more vacancies than the year before.

In response, Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers (part of the NHS Confederation), said:

“Despite everything the NHS is doing to recruit and retain its workforce, there is no escaping the fact that services are facing chronic workforce shortages, which are getting worse. These pressures are felt right across the NHS with the biggest gaps seen in nursing, particularly in acute and mental health posts.

“For the NHS to fully recover from the pandemic, tackle its waiting lists and support its remaining staff, it needs the Government to provide adequate funding for a long-term and sustainable plan for workforce.

“To do that effectively, decision makers must have greater transparency and understanding about future workforce needs, which is why NHS leaders are right behind the proposed amendment that would require the secretary of state for health and social care to publish regular and independent assessments of the numbers of staff the NHS needs, both now and in the years to come.”