750 more NHS staff planned for 2016/17

Over 750 more full-time staff are expected to be recruited to NHS Scotland in 2016/17, workforce projections published today show.

Across Scotland, health boards are projected to recruit almost 100 more whole time equivalent (WTE) medical staff and 440.2 WTE more nursing and midwifery staff during this financial year.

The Allied Health Professions – which includes roles such as radiographers, paramedics and physiotherapists – is also planned to increase by 177.3 WTE this year, with the overall total NHS workforce growing by 764.8 WTE (up 0.6%).

Health Secretary Shona Robison welcomed the increase in NHS staff and said:

“Today’s figures show that to give people the high quality health care they deserve, we are investing in and supporting a highly skilled NHS Scotland workforce.

“As the demand on our health service grows, we must continue to grow and invest in our NHS workforce. At the request of the Scottish Government, health boards have very carefully assessed their workforce needs for the coming year and identified the number of additional staff required to help deliver services.

“These planned increases comes on top of NHS staff numbers rising to record levels under this Government, with more consultants, nurses and midwives and allied health professionals now delivering care for the people of Scotland.”

Most health boards are projecting an increase in staffing levels over the next year, with NHS Grampian planning to recruit an additional 137.9 WTE employees, NHS Tayside planning to recruit an additional 137.8 WTE nursing and midwifery staff (up 2.6%) and the Scottish Ambulance Service planning to employ an extra 117.0 WTE staff members.

The Scottish Ambulance Service also plan to train up a number of their ambulance service staff to become paramedics, changing their classification to Allied Health Profession. This section of their workforce will grow by 141.0 WTE (up 10.4%).