New data shows rise in number of vacant NHS positions

The number of NHS positions being left vacant has increased considerably in the last year, according to a new report.

Statistics from NHS Digital have shown that 86,035 NHS posts were vacant between January 2017 and March 2017, which represents an increase of almost 8,000 compared to the first quarter of 2016.

The nursing and midwifery group accounted for the largest percentage of full-time vacancies, with 11,485 such posts currently left empty, followed by 6,575 vacancies in the administrative and clerical staff group.

It was also shown that in March 2017 alone, there were 30,613 full-time equivalent vacancies advertised on the NHS Jobs website – the highest monthly total since data was first collected in February 2015.

The Royal College of Nursing said the number of nursing vacancies is particularly bad news as it coincides with separate data showing a fall of 1,274 full-time equivalent nursing and health visitor staff working for the NHS in England between March and April 2017.

RCN chief executive Janet Davies said: "For the sake of patient safety, the chancellor must scrap the cap on pay and help to fill the tens of thousands of vacant nurse jobs."

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