Scotland has slowest growth in UK for nursing and midwifery workforce

THE number of nurses and midwives registered in Scotland has risen by just 280 in the past year.

Scotland experienced the slowest year-on-year growth in the workforce of any part of the UK, amid warnings that staff are quitting due to “too much pressure” and pandemic burnout.

Figures from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) show 3,030 Scotland-based nurses and midwives joined the UK’S professional register in 2021/22, taking the total number in Scotland to a record 71,802.

However, 2,750 nurses and midwives left the register over the same period, equating to a net gain of just 280 staff – or 1.4 per cent. That compares to an increase of 2.6% in England, 2.7% in Northern Ireland, and 2.2% in Wales.

The figures come after NHS Scotland data revealed a 170% rise in nursing and midwifery vacancies between December 2020 and December 2021.

Matthew Mcclelland, lead director for Scotland at the NMC, said the rise in people leaving nursing and midwifery “reflects the picture we’re seeing for the UK as a whole, and shows the impact of pressurised environments, challenging workplace cultures, and the pandemic on the workforce”.

Colin Poolman, director for the Royal College of Nursing Scotland, said: “With over 6,000 nursing and midwifery vacancies in the NHS and significant shortages of registered nurses within Scotland’s care homes, more must be done to retain current nursing staff and ensure nursing is attractive, well paid and meaningfully supported.”

The Scottish Government said: “Staffing is at a record high level following 10 consecutive years of growth, with overall staffing up by over 22% since 2006.

“Our national strategy commits to increasing the NHS workforce even further, with 1,800 additional full- time posts on top of projected workforce growth requirements.”