By STEWART PATERSON

LABOUR is to set up a commission to investigate staffing shortages in the NHS.

Speaking at the party’s annual Scottish conference today in Perth, Anas Sarwar, health spokesman will tell delegates it will be up and running in ten weeks time.

Labour says the policy is in response to warnings from health and medical organisations about gaps in the workforce.

The Workforce Commission will look at the number of student nurse training places and funding them through their courses.

It will also look to address drop out rates and staff retention.

Mr Sarwar is expected to say: “We have a Scottish Government that has had no meaningful workforce plan for 10 years. I can announce today that Scottish Labour will have a workforce commission up and running in 10 weeks.”

He said the SNP has cut training places for nurses and midwives and cut funding for medical students since it has been in power at Holyrood.

He is expected to say: “Working with colleagues across the NHS we will bring forward solutions to the workforce crisis.

“In particular, the commission will look a number of key areas which I think need urgent action.”

He said it will consider increasing the number of training places for nurses and midwives.

It will also look at attracting more nurses and “putting more money into student nurses’ pockets” through direct financial support.

The Glasgow MSP will say the commission will also look at the impact of seven years of pay restraint and the affect on staff.

He will say:“ So to improve staff morale and increase retention, it will consider how we can finally scrap the 1% pay cap for NHS staff.”

Mr Sarwar will also tell the conference the commission will investigate how to reduce the spend on private agency staff which he said has “rocketed” to £175m this year.

The policy will also look at social care with additional demand on services and pressure on resources.

He said scotland and Glasgow is facing a delayed discharge crisis will people unable to leave hospital due to a lack of available care.

He added:“Over half a million bed days were lost last year to patients who were medically cleared to leave but were still trapped in hospital.

“That’s the equivalent of every bed, every day and more for an entire year at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow being occupied by patients cleared to leave.”