NHS Grampian Recruitment Struggles To Be Discussed At Holyrood

Local MSP Richard Baker is to today highlight the huge vacancy figures within NHS Grampian at Holyrood.

There are 62 fewer professionals such as Occupational Therapists, Radiographers and Physiotherapists employed by Grampian than there should be according to official figures.

The 6.5 percent vacancy rate in Grampian (62 from 955 or 6.5 per cent) is almost triple that of Greater Glasgow and Clyde which has only 68 vacancies from a full staff of 2783 (2.4 per cent).

The debate at Holyrood - Allied Health Professionals, Enabling Active and Independent Living – will be heard this afternoon, but Mr Baker says that Ministers must face up to the employment crisis that has been created on their watch.

Richard Baker said:

“There can be no doubt that new models of care should seek to enable people to spend as little time in hospital as necessary and to lead independent fulfilling lives. However, when the professionals needed to enable this such as OTs and Physios are missing then that goal is going to be missed.

“Grampian has a real problem with delayed discharge and I have no doubt that is being exacerbated by the lack of key medical staff. You cannot discharge someone from hospital until appropriate OT assessments take place and with over 1 in every 20 Occupational Therapists missing (6.7 percent) then it is little wonder that patients are stuck in hospital longer than necessary.

“The numbers for physiotherapy are worse with almost as many as 1 in 10 professionals not employed. (25.1 from 260 – 9.6 percent).

“The crisis at NHS Grampian cannot continue to be body swerved by SNP Ministers. It is their responsibility to ensure improving standards but unless we see a step-change then it is patients in the north east that will continue to be let down.”