Labour sets up group to solve NHS staff ‘crisis’

LABOUR has set up its commission to investigate staffing shortages in the NHS.

The NHS and Social Care Workforce Commission will aim to find solutions to tackle what Labour has termed “the staffing crisis in our health service”.

It has appointed Dr Miles Mack, chairman of the Royal College of GPs who it said will be politically neutral and independent of the party.

He will lead a six-strong team including Theresa Fyffe, director of the Royal College of Nursing and Dave Watson, Scottish organiser of Unison.

Dr Mack said staffing was a challenge for the NHS.

He added: “The workforce shortage within health and social care is undoubtedly one of the biggest challenges faced by the NHS as it responds to population changes across Scotland.

“This commission is an opportunity to take a detailed look, with other independent stakeholders, at the situation as it is now and devise evidence-based recommendations.”

Labour said there are 2,500 nurse and midwife vacancies in the NHS, which it blames on Scottish Government cuts and reductions in training places.

Anas Sarwar, Labour’s health spokesman said: “Our commis- sion will bring together professionals from across the NHS, representing different sectors, who will together examine the underlying causes for this staffing crisis and importantly develop a strategy and policies to address them.

“I am delighted we have managed to attract widely respected and experienced individuals who know our NHS so well.”