SNP urged to fill 'gaping holes' in Scotland's mental health staffing
The call comes from the Scottish Liberal Democrats
Last updated 6th Aug 2022
The SNP is being urged to do more to fill the 'gaping holes' in mental health staffing across Scotland.
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by the Scottish Liberal Democrats revealed significant vacancies across the country – with almost 15 percent of consultant psychiatrist positions vacant.
Lib Dem leader Alex-Cole Hamilton said: "The gaping holes in mental health staffing are incredibly harmful to patients and staff. It is crystal clear that the situation demands immediate action."
Figures around the country
The statistics show that over half of consultant positions at NHS Tayside have not been filled.
The health board has 42.76 whole-time equivalent posts for consultant psychiatrists, according to the release, with 23.06 yet to be filled.
Meanwhile, NHS Highland has the second highest number of vacancies with 36.8 per cent of jobs unoccupied, according to the figures.
In Scotland as a whole, 64.53 whole-time equivalent posts are vacant, compared to 444.47 that are in place.
However, it is thought the number will be higher due to NHS Highland divulging total posts, as opposed to their whole-time equivalent, meaning the board's figures are missing from the final total.
The figures also show that NHS Orkney does not have a permanent consultant psychiatrist in place.
Action needed
Mr Cole Hamilton said: "This is not an effect of the pandemic. Covid only accentuated all the pre-existing gaps created by 15 years of SNP mismanagement and failure in training and retaining the workforce.
"Scottish Liberal Democrats have championed the cause of our national mental health for several years, negotiating £120 million extra in last year's budget.
"But the reality is that there is serious work still to be done. It's especially hard to clear the terrible waiting lists when staff are telling us they are exhausted, begging the question why SNP and Green MSPs voted down my proposal for an urgent burnout prevention strategy.
"As part of my proposals to give New Hope for Health, I've set out proposals to ramp up training because we need many more mental health professionals in every part of the system - from early intervention to this more complex care.
"That's the scale of ambition that Scotland needs if everyone is to get access to support swiftly and close to home."
Scottish government response
Responding to these comments, mental health minister Kevin Stewart said: "Our commitment to recruit an additional 800 mental health staff to frontline roles across Scotland was clear - we are delighted that we have not only achieved this, but exceeded it.
"As well as this increasing staffing in community settings, we have increased mental health staffing across the NHS. We're increasing our direct mental health investment, including funding 1,000 additional staff for GP practices to deliver access to a multi-disciplinary mental health and wellbeing service by 2026.
"We're also providing sufficient funding to support recruitment of 320 additional staff in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services by 2026, increasing capacity for cases by over 10,000."