Jobs boost for health service

Health bosses said the number of NHS staff is expected to increase by more than 1,400 jobs this year.

The report, which looks at projected staff numbers across all health boards, including those working in Renfrewshire, predicts a rise of 1,414 full-time posts.

Nursing and midwifery is expected to see the largest rise, accounting for 42 per cent of the additional posts, with an extra 595 positions.

There are expected to be an extra 207 doctors taken on, a 191 rise in allied health professionals, while ambulance services will be boosted by 91 extra members of staff.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said:“There are record numbers of staff across Scotland’s health service, and these projected figures show that we are on track to continue that increase in the year ahead.

“The largest proportion of these increases are expected to be in the nursing and midwifery staff group.

“We have committed to create an additional 2,600 training places for nurses and midwives over the next four years.

“Increasing staff numbers is important, but we are also focussed on making sure we develop and retain the flexible workforce we need. This is backed up by other measures in our workforce strategy, such as extended‘return to practice’ programmes and improved recruitment and retention schemes”