Posted 29 September 2023 - 09:00
Posted 29 September 2023 - 09:00
News
Nurse vacancies soar almost 60% in Wales leaving staff ‘exhausted’
RCN report also shows nursing staff work a total of 69,877 additional hours every week, and reliance on agency staff has increased in the country
RCN report also shows nursing staff work a total of 69,877 additional hours every week, and reliance on agency staff has increased in the country
Nurse vacancies in Wales have soared by almost 60% in two years, according to new data by the RCN.
The RCN Wales Nursing in Numbers report also shows nursing staff are working a total of 69,877 additional hours every week. This is the equivalent of an extra 1,863 full-time posts.
RCN disputes government figures
Data published by the Welsh Government in August records 2,290 vacancies in registered nursing, midwifery and health visiting posts, with an estimated vacancy rate of 8.4%.
But RCN Wales claims the actual figure for registered nurses alone is 2,717 unfilled posts, based on freedom of information requests to all of the health boards in the country. This is up by 58% since 2021 when there were an estimated 1,719 full-time vacancies for registered nurses across the NHS in Wales.
Call for government ‘not to take nursing for granted’
RCN Wales director Helen Whyley called on the Welsh health minister to stop taking nurses for granted and invest in the future workforce to address the vacancy crisis.
‘The Welsh Government needs to up its investment in this essential profession which makes up 40% of the NHS Wales workforce,’ she said.
‘Nursing staff are exhausted, and recruitment hasn’t kept pace with patient need. I’m calling on Eluned Morgan, minister for health and social services, not to take nursing for granted. Listen to nursing staff, safeguard patients and make sure there is an NHS able to deliver care for future generations.’
Nurse vacancies (full-time equivalent) by health board in Wales
- Aneurin Bevan – 366.00
- Betsi Cadwaladr – 882.60
- Cardiff and the Vale – 314.49
- Taf Morgannwg – 283.03
- Hywel Dda – 311.11
- Powys – 119.75
- Swansea Bay – 439.8
TOTAL = 2,716.78
Source: Freedom of information requests / RCN Wales Nursing in Numbers
Rise in agency spend
The RCN report shows that between March 2017 and March 2022 the nursing workforce grew by 7%, while, over the same period, the medical and dental professionals workforce increased by 23%, and allied health professionals by 29%.
Meanwhile a reliance on agency nursing has grown, with a 21% increase in spending on nursing and midwifery temporary staff since 2021-22.
Government highlights increase in nurse training places
RCN Wales added that shortages are affecting staff well-being with ‘fewer nursing staff now saying they feel enthusiastic about their job’.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: ‘Our National Workforce Implementation Plan sets out how we will retain and increase the NHS Wales workforce to meet future demand and deal with a worldwide shortage of healthcare workers, including reducing reliance on agency staff. Since 2017, nurse training places have increased by 54.3% and midwifery training places by 41.8%.’
Further information
Read the RCN Wales Nursing in Numbers report
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