Scotland now has 500 fewer nursing posts than in March
Nearly 500 nursing posts have been lost in Scotland since the end of March, official workforce figures have shown.
- By David Clegg, political editor
- Published in the Courier : 31.08.11
- Published online : 31.08.11 @ 08.41am
The cuts, which include 32 posts in Fife but just one in Tayside, mean Scotland now has fewer nurses and midwives than at any time since 2005.
There are 1000 fewer nurses across Scotland than a year ago and another 485 posts went in the three months to June, leaving 66,425. Across the NHS overall the number of staff fell by 1410 since March.
The number of consultants fell by 0.6%, while professions like physiotherapists, radiographers and speech therapists and nursing and midwifery staff each saw a 0.9% fall. Back room management staff were cut by 2%.
The figures came as health secretary Nicola Sturgeon produced another set of record breaking NHS statistics with waiting times and hospital infections driven down again.
On Tuesday she insisted that smaller staffs would not damage patient care and health boards would only be allowed to cut posts if they can deliver positive benefits to patients.
She said, "Any reduction in health service workforce causes concern and it is understandable that people equate reductions with financial pressures.
"But health services have an obligation to link changes in their workforce to service redesign that make services more efficient while maintaining or improving quality."
'Growing trend of cuts'
She added: "We now have the lowest ever waiting times on record and the lowest levels of hospital infection we have ever seen. We have an NHS that's delivering and that should be the ultimate judgement."
She has promised that, by the end of this year, 90% of patients will complete the journey from the doctor's waiting room to treatment within 18 weeks and yesterday's figures show that 89.7% have hit the target.
Overall, 99.4% of patients were waiting 12 weeks or less for their first outpatient appointment and 99.1% were waiting less than nine weeks for inpatient/day case treatment.
But critics remained unconvinced.
Tory health spokesman Murdo Fraser said the NHS is facing "a growing trend of cuts in frontline staff when the SNP gave a commitment that this wouldn't happen".
The Mid Scotland and Fife MSP added: "The Scottish Government's own projections show projected cuts in nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals of more than 1000 over the next 12 months.
"The decision of the UK Government to protect health spending allowed the Scottish Government to do the same, but these cuts in doctors, nurses and other professionals will cause serious concern."
Labour's Cowdenbeath MSP Helen Eadie said: "Before the recent election Mr Salmond told us that he would protect frontline NHS staff but it's clear from these figures that his promise was completely worthless."
Labour's shadow health secretary Jackie Baillie added: "Scottish Labour wants to see resources going to support essential NHS staff doing a valuable job saving lives.
"The SNP need to stop kidding folk that they are protecting the NHS — cutting thousands of nurses will have a direct impact on our services and the quality of patient care."
11.03am - 31.08.2011 Stuart Allan - Dundee, Scotland Report This
I work in the NHS and will fight any "attacks" on staffing. However, opposition politicians are being disengenuous here. The SNP promised to protect the NHS as a service, not an arbitrary head count. The stats show they are delivering despite a tiny drop in staff nos. I think a little credit is due.
12.30pm - 31.08.2011 Iain F. - Dundee, UK Report This
Stuart, sorry but it was the SNP who said they would maintain nurse numbers, no one forced them to make that statement. Tell porkies, face the firestorm. Will there come a day when the SNP's supporters will ever stop apologising for this?
03.48pm - 31.08.2011 Mikey - Dundee, UK Report This
@ Stuart Tiny drop in staff numbers? There's another 1,000 nurses set to be punted next year! But you are right, credit where credit is due. Thanks Mr Salmond and the SNP Executive at Holyrood.
06.30pm - 31.08.2011 Stuart Allan - Dundee, Scotland Report This
I only remember a committment to maintain front line services, which they have more than managed despite the financial situation. Will the SNP's opponents ever realise that nit picking over issues the public understand only makes themselves look bad? Well, no evidence of it yet. Lessons unlearned?
10.26am - 01.09.2011 Mikey - Dundee, UK Report This
@ Stuart I recall Ms Sturgeon refusing to confirm on Newsnight Scotland, on SEVEN occasions, that the SNP would 'maintain' numbers. All she would commit to was to 'protect' services which the interviewer rightly pointed out was not the same thing. Now we all know why she answered the way she did
03.11pm - 01.09.2011 Stuart Allan - Dundee, Scotland Report This
So Mikey, she told no lies then. What's the problem? The fact remains, the SNP promised to maintain front line services, despite the UK's financial meltdown, and they have more than accomplished that. Good for them :)
10.32am - 02.09.2011 Mikey - Dundee, UK Report This
@ Stuart. Mmmmm.. You also forget one thing: Swinney postponed the depth of the cuts to win an election. I would hold back on the triumphalism for now - "protect" may well be given another explanation by the SNP and their followers in the months to come!
11.32am - 02.09.2011 Stuart Allan - Dundee, Scotland Report This
Ahhh, the old "ok, we were wrong here, but our innuendo clearly shows it will all go pear shaped at some vague, undetermined future date ... trust us" line. Scots know the score concerning public finances within the near bankrupt UK. Unionist politiking over it only discredits them.
11.25am - 04.09.2011 d - Dundee, scotland Report This
I would recommend that bonuses are stopped for the upper management, who I feel should be doing their job to the best of their ability anyway and therefore do not deserve a bonus. Taking bonuses when earning well above the national average is greed and theft when in the NHS.
11.12am - 05.09.2011 Mikey - Dundee, UK Report This
@ Stuart With those answers I'm guessing you are an SNP apparatchik. I never cease to be amazed with those who are OK with this kind of slippery answer. As an ordinary punter, I have to say that I loathe it when politicians lie to me OR, in this case, try to deceive me.
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