For immediate release:

NHS LANARKSHIRE WORKFORCE BOOST AS STAFF NUMBERS RISE

MSP for Rutherglen Clare Haughey has praised the staff working in our NHS ahead of the busy festive period after latest stats showed increased staffing levels that will help give patients the best possible care.

South Lanarkshire is benefitting from an increase in the numbers of NHS staff as part of a Scotland-wide rise that has seen the NHS workforce reach record levels in 2017. NHS Lanarkshire had its full-time equivalent staff levels grow from 10,523.6 to 10,619.9 – while Scotland as a whole now has nearly 140,000 people working in our health service.

These new figures were released in the same week as other research conducted by the BBC which shows that fewer patients in Scotland are waiting longer than four hours in A&E than they did in 2012/13.

Commenting, Clare Haughey MSP said:

“As a mental health nurse myself, I fully welcome any increase in the number working in our hospitals and surgeries. There can be no doubt – the staff are the lifeblood of our NHS.

“This rise – from 10,523.6 to 10,619.9 – will help make sure people throughout South Lanarkshire receive the top class care that they have come to expect from our NHS – particularly during the busy festive period when resources are often stretched.

“Fewer patients in Scotland are waiting longer than four hours in A&E than they did in 2012/13 – which is in stark contrast to in England where the number has more than doubled. Our NHS in Scotland consistently outperforms other health services across the UK, and this is down to the care and commitment of our NHS staff.

“Those working in our health service deserve our thanks at all times of year, but not least during the holiday period when they might be away from their families looking after those in need”.

ENDS

Notes:

2016 workforce data: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/data-tables.asp

2017 workforce data: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/data-tables2017.asp?id=2056#2056

BBC research: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-42255434

Date published: 11th December 2017