A “PERFECT storm” is brewing for the nursing workforce following a “boom and bust” approach to staffing, the profession has warned.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Scotland has called on ministers to take action, arguing that modest increases in nursing and midwifery staff are not keeping up with demand.

The number of nurses, midwives and health visitors in Scotland rose by one per cent between 2009 and 2015, according to a new report from the RCN, up from 42,670 to 43,085.

Vacancy rates for nursing posts rose from 3.7 per cent to 4.2 per cent in June, the RCN added.

Meanwhile, student nurse intake numbers fell by a quarter between 2005/06 and 2012/13, although numbers began to rise again in 2013/14.

The report also highlights pressures arising from the age profile of nursing staff. 

In 2006, slightly more than 40 per cent were aged 45 or older, but by last year this had risen to much more than half.

RCN Scotland director Theresa Fyffe said: “The last few years have been characterised by a ‘boom and bust’ approach to nursing workforce planning, with many of our health boards cutting the number of nursing staff simply to balance their books – and then having to try and recruit more nursing staff as demand for services soared.

“This is no way to run our health services. Scotland’s population is getting older and more and more people are living with more complex conditions. Demand for health care is going through the roof.

“And you only have to look at the latest NHS vacancy rate to know that the very modest increase in staff is just not keeping pace with demand, with a number of health boards struggling to recruit enough nursing staff.”

Health Secretary Shona Robison said the nursing workforce had increased by 2,100 since 2006, a rise of 5.2 per cent.
“Rises in nursing and midwifery vacancies are due to the creation of new posts in health boards, mainly as a result of information from our innovative workload and workforce planning tools, which help health boards to plan for the number of staff they require,” she said.

“We are committed to training and retaining our nursing staff and we will increase the number of trainee nurses and midwives by 5.6 per cent for 2016/17 – a fourth successive rise.”

She added the Government “is committed to retaining the nursing and midwifery bursary and free tuition fees in Scotland”.

Opposition parties said the report is another “stark warning” about the state of the NHS.