Health visitor vacancies hit two-year high

Health visitor vacancy rates are at their highest in more than two years as opposition politicians claim the SNP is struggling to meet a staff boost pledge.

The latest official figures show there are 144 health visitor vacancies across Scotland, just under one in 10 of the 1,448 posts.

This gives a vacancy rate of 9.1%, up by almost half (44%) on the same period the previous year when the 93 vacancies from 1,291 staff gave a rate of 6.3%.

The latest vacancy rate, of which 62 have been empty for more than three months, is the highest since figures were first reported this way in March 2015.

The Scottish Government announced a £40 million investment plan in June 2014 to create 500 extra health visitor jobs in the next four years.

The Conservatives have said workforce trends suggest the SNP is not likely to hit that target but Health Secretary Shona Robison continues to maintain it is “on track”.

Official statistics show there were between 1,047.9 full time equivalent (FTE) and 1,114.7 FTE health visitors in March 2014, from when the pledge was measured. The latest figure of 1,448 in December 2017, published last month, means the extra 500 workers is short by between 100 and 166.

Scottish Conservative public health spokeswoman Annie Wells said: “The SNP made a promise to secure 500 extra health visitors, a commitment we welcomed, but it looks like that’s going to fall short.”