MSPs clash over consultancy jobs
Four mental health posts unfilled since last year
Two MSPs have clashed over the number of unfilled psychiatric consultant vacancies in NHS Lanarkshire.
Central Scotland list MSP Monica Lennon has called for more action to fill vacancies – with four post unfilled in NHS Lanarkshire since last year.
Vacancies across all health boards rose from 14 to 55 between 2011 and 2015.
“For the number of unfilled posts to quadruple in five years shows that resources are not meeting demand,” said the Labour MSP.
“If the SNP Government is serious about putting mental health on a par with physical health then they will be looking to get these post filled as soon as possible.
“We know that waiting times for treatment of mental health has not been good enough, and no wonder with figures like this – clearly there aren’t enough staff to keep up with demand.
“This is just the latest example of the SNP’s mismanagement of workforce planning in our NHS.
“We have already seen difficulty filling posts in nursing and general practice due to SNP cuts to training places.
“Patients and staff deserve better.
“The forthcoming mental health strategy needs to address the workforce problems that is holding back mental health treatment so significantly in Scotland.”
However, East Kilbride MSP Linda Fabiani defended the NHS and the SNP’s attitude toward the positions.
She told the News that there had been a huge increase on spending on mental health, and that NHS Lanarkshire was working to fill the position.
She said: “Mental health services are an absolute priority for the Scottish Government.
“Spending on mental health has increased by 38.9 per cent since the SNP were elected in 2007, with an additional £150 million being committed to mental health services over the next five years.
“NHS Lanarkshire have assured me that the vacancies have arisen due to consultants retiring and moving onto other roles and that they are doing all they can to fill the posts.”