For immediate release:

BOOST FOR NHS LANARKSHIRE AS STAFF NUMBERS ON THE RISE

Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey has praised hard-working staff at NHS Lanarkshire after the latest statistics showed increased staffing levels across Scotland.

Rutherglen and Cambuslang are benefitting from an increase in the numbers of staff working for NHS Lanarkshire – part of a Scotland-wide rise that has seen the NHS workforce reach record levels in 2018.

NHS Lanarkshire had its full-time equivalent staff levels increase from 10,799 to 11,072 – a boost of 2.5%.

Through the Scottish Government’s 2019/20 Budget, NHS Lanarkshire is set to receive an extra £43.2 million taking its total allocation to £1.2 billion.

Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey, who worked in the NHS for over two decades as a mental health nurse, welcomed the rise in workforce numbers.

Commenting, Clare Haughey MSP said:

“Staff are the lifeblood of our NHS in South Lanarkshire– and it is welcome news there are record numbers working in our hospitals and surgeries across Scotland.

“NHS Lanarkshire will now benefit from having even more dedicated and highly skilled staff – ensuring people in Rutherglen and Cambuslang receive the world-class care that they have come to expect from our NHS.

“I have spent over twenty years working in the NHS as a mental health nurse so I know it can be challenging, but it is also incredibly rewarding. I would encourage everyone to seriously consider entering the health service as a career.

“As a cherished public service, the Scottish Government will continue to ensure our health service is properly funded and fit for the future.”

ENDS

Notes:

To view NHS Lanarkshire figures – click below link, download ‘Overall trend’ table, open the download, click ‘trend’ tab, then click drop-down ‘Scotland’ box, and choose NHS Lanarkshire:

https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/data-tables2017.asp?id=2363#2363

For ease of reference, NHS Lanarkshire staff levels are: December 18 – 11,071.9 WTE; December 17 – 10,798.8 WTE. The annual rise is therefore 2.5%.

Budget Funding Stats:

 

Budget Year	18/19	19/20	Increase £m	%
NHS Ayrshire and Arran	694.9	720	25.1	3.6%
NHS Borders	200.6	207.7	7.1	3.5%
NHS Dumfries and Galloway	289.1	299.1	10	3.5%
NHS Fife	636.6	661.4	24.8	3.9%
NHS Forth Valley	506.8	527	20.2	4.0%
NHS Grampian	920.6	957.9	37.3	4.1%
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde	2,154.50	2,231.20	76.7	3.6%
NHS Highland	604.3	627.5	23.2	3.8%
NHS Lanarkshire	1,156.10	1,199.30	43.2	3.7%
NHS Lothian	1,384.30	1,441.50	57.2	4.1%
NHS Orkney	47.7	49.6	1.9	4.0%
NHS Shetland	48.7	50.6	1.9	3.9%
NHS Tayside	734.8	762.9	28.1	3.8%
NHS Western Isles	73	75.7	2.7	3.7%

 

Date published: 7th March 2019