The extent of staffing shortages across NHS Scotland has been revealed by workforce statistics published this week – prompting experts in the sector to suggest recruitment and retention efforts should be focused on education and developing a kinder culture for staff.

Speaking at yesterday’s Scottish Policy Conferences seminar on priorities for health policy in Scotland, Professor Susan Dawkes called for different access routes to health careers to be considered to allow those with non-traditional educational backgrounds to enter a career in health.

The Head of School of Nursing at Robert Gordon University believes that, in order to deal with increasingly complex care cases, new, dedicated healthcare roles and ways of teaching must be explored – and by “positively disrupting education”, the workforce can better adapt to the changing needs of patients.

New NHS Scotland workforce statistics published this week show nursing and midwifery vacancies have been at a record high since March 2019, with over 4,800 posts unfilled.

Macmillan Cancer Support yesterday warned Scotland is facing a “perfect storm”, with many experienced nursing staff set to retire soon and an over-stretched workforce unable “to fill all the gaps”.

Professor Dawkes went onto say:

“Professional regulators must be lobbied to change the number of clinical hours nurses and midwifery students need to do to qualify.”

Improving wellbeing and resilience of staff was another key focus of the conference.

Dr Ellie Hothersall, Head of MBChB (Teaching and Scholarship) at the University of Dundee told delegates: “Welfare should be the waters in which we swim”; this mantra, she believes, should be central when shaping the long-term strategy.

The Associate Director of Public Health at NHS Tayside said covid had magnified pre-existing issues in student mental health and lack of wellbeing, adding:

“We need to take a long-term view and invest in an educator workforce. Through this, we come to improvements in recruitment and retention, by providing support and compassion by asking “what would help you?”.”

Dr Elizabeth Kelly from the Carnegie UK Trust suggested a wider cultural shift is needed.

Dr Kelly told the conference that “approaching public policy with a kindness perspective can radically alter what is prioritised and when it is prioritised”.

A “real ethical and moral dilemma is facing our leaders” in health and social care according to the doctor, telling the delegation that “failure to meet performance targets prior to the pandemic was met with scrutiny from the government, news and the public … this impacted on the very people responsible for delivery these services, damaging confidence and relationships.”

Developing healthy services where staff are well, supported early and have relationships within the workplace will be, in her opinion, crucial in tackling the staffing crisis facing Scotland.

Read more: Scotland facing cancer nurse “timebomb”; London GP group to provide NHS staff support service; Shortfall in key mental health staff as workload rises

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