Nurse raid needs fightback
Just when it wasn’t needed, Ireland’s health service is coming to Scotland to lure nurses and midwives to the Republic. It’s a tempting offer, with a better salary at entry level, relocation expenses with tax break, an allowance, and help with education costs. As NHS Scotland struggles with highest-ever vacancy levels, this raid is not good news.
The campaign is aimed at bringing home Irish ex-pats, and to be fair, Scotland is one of several countries where this approach is being pursued, but the NHS is not in a position to lose its Irish nurses without putting further pressure on staffing levels. And in addition, the Irish offer could prove attractive to Scots who feel they are being shortchanged by their own profession.
The challenge for the Scottish Government is to find ways of retaining NHS staff, and ensuring that working in Scotland is an attractive option. A similar challenge exists in teaching.
The health secretary, Shona Robison, reports an increase in trainee nurses and midwives. That’s good news – but once these new recruits are in position, their worth to society must be properly recognised.