Posted 18 April 2023 - 04:59
Posted 18 April 2023 - 04:59
News
Nurse shortage: ward that can’t recruit could be shut for months
Efforts to attract nurses to NHS community hospital inpatient ward fail, forcing patients to be sent to alternative sites until safe staffing can be restored
Efforts to attract nurses to NHS community hospital inpatient ward fail, forcing patients to be sent to alternative sites until safe staffing can be restored
A lack of nurses is forcing a community hospital in Wales to close its inpatient ward and move patients to another hospital 20 miles away.
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) will transfer patients to the other site because it is unable to recruit enough nurses to staff the ward at Tywyn Hospital on the west Wales coast.
‘We took decision to protect patient safety’
Board community director Ffion Johnstone said it had ‘exhausted all recruitment options’ and predicted it could take several months to find the staff, with the ward remaining closed until then.
‘These arrangements will be under regular review. We are still actively recruiting and our intention is to re-open the ward at Tywyn Hospital as soon as possible. However, this is dependent on securing more nursing staff and the process is likely to take several months.
‘We understand this will cause concern, but we have taken the decision to protect the safety of our inpatients until we can achieve sustainable levels of nurse staffing.’
Ms Johnstone confirmed all other services at Tywyn Hospital will continue as normal.
Local politicians including the area’s Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville Roberts criticised the ward closure and its potential impact on nurse recruitment. In a statement they said: ‘Even temporary closure will have wide-ranging and long-term implications and might further disincentivise nursing staff from applying for positions.’
Steep rise in nurse vacancies in Wales NHS
The RCN has long said there are not enough nurses in Wales to deliver adequate care. In a recent report, the college estimated there had been an 80% increase in registered nurse vacancies in Wales’ NHS in Wales in two years. It estimated there were at least 2,900 registered nurse vacancies in 2022, up from 1,612 in 2020 and 1,719 in 2021.
Chief nursing officer for Wales, Sue Tranka, confirmed in January that the country is the only part of the UK not to publish data on nurse vacancies.
RCN Wales has been contacted for comment.
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