Tag: nursing

Queen Margaret University launches three-year nursing degree to fast-track students into healthcare

Queen Margaret University (QMU), Edinburgh has announced the launch of a new three-year full-time BSc Nursing programme, offering students a faster route into the nursing workforce at a time of growing demand for qualified healthcare professionals.

For several years, QMU has offered courses which are studied over 4 years – a BSc Honours and a Master of Nursing – but this new 3 year degree expands QMU’s current provision, providing students aspiring to become qualified nurses with more routes to registration. 

QMU’s new BSc Nursing provides an accelerated pathway to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), enabling graduates to enter the workforce a year earlier, while still benefiting from the University’s renowned high-quality teaching and person-centred approach to nurse education. Eligible students will also benefit from the £10,000 annual bursary for the full three-year duration of the course, alongside tuition fees covered by the Scottish Government.

Fast-track into nursing

The new BSc Nursing (three-year fulltime) offers:

  • Accelerated registration with the NMC, allowing graduates to join the workforce sooner.
  • Shared learning opportunities with students across QMU’s Division of Nursing and Paramedic Science, including those on the BSc Nursing (Hons), Master of Nursing, and BSc Nursing (Earn as you Learn) programmes.
  • Financial support, with eligible students receiving the £10,000 annual bursary for each of the three years, alongside tuition fees covered by the Scottish Government.
  • A condensed timetable with shorter summer breaks, ensuring students remain on track to graduate within three years.

Students will benefit from QMU’s strong partnerships with NHS Health Boards and other healthcare providers, gaining hands-on experience in a wide range of clinical settings.

The programme emphasises person-centred care, leadership development, and interprofessional learning, preparing graduates to deliver safe, compassionate, and effective healthcare.

On successful completion of the degree, graduates will have the option to enter the nursing workforce with the NHS or private sector. Subject to approval, this course will commence on 14th September 2026. 

Meeting the needs of healthcare

Ruth Magowan, Head of the Division of Nursing at QMU, commented: “This new accelerated programme reflects QMU’s commitment to innovation and flexibility in healthcare education.

“By offering students the chance to qualify in three years instead of four, we are helping to strengthen the nursing workforce while ensuring our graduates are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and compassion needed to deliver excellent person-centred care.

“QMU has a longstanding reputation for excellence in nursing education, preparing students for rewarding careers in healthcare. With strong links to clinical practice, a focus on person-centred care, and a supportive learning environment, QMU graduates are highly sought after across Scotland and beyond.

“We are delighted to support the Scottish Government’s ambition to bolster the country’s healthcare workforce by playing a pivotal role in strengthening Scotland’s nursing profession.”

‘Never give up – if I can do it so can you!’

Mum encourages others to follow their nursing dream

A 42-year-old mum-of-two who raised her children largely on her own and overcame her doubts to become a nurse, is encouraging others to follow in her footsteps and pursue their dreams.

And she has just one message: “Never give up.”

Jaspreet Deerhe, 42, from Bishopbriggs, is one of more than 500 newly qualified nurses and midwives to join NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in the past few weeks – and she hopes her story can be an inspiration to others who find themselves in her position.

Jaspreet moved from the USA when she was a teenager and married young. She had two sons and she worked in care as the boys grew up.

But all the time she knew she wanted to do more, and as her marriage ended she decided to take the plunge.

“I wanted to work in healthcare,” she said, “but my confidence wasn’t great as I’d been out of education for a long time.”

But those doubts didn’t stop her – first she completed an access course at college and then it was off to university.

“It was strange at first – in fact some of my fellow students were younger than my children. I was shocked at how important computers had become and I often felt out of my depth – but I was certain this was the place I needed to be,” Jaspreet said.

“There’s no pretending that it wasn’t hard work. There were times when I thought I couldn’t do it – when others said I wouldn’t manage – but I didn’t give up.

“All I knew was I wanted to help people. I needed to make a difference to people’s lives, and that kept me going when things got tough.”

Jaspreet – or Jazz as her new NHSGGC name badge, worn proudly on her Staff Nurse uniform, says – now works in Ward 20/21 rheumatology/acute medicine at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, and all her struggles have paid off.

“All I can say to anyone who’s in my position, and maybe thinks they can’t manage it, is please, have courage. If you can push yourself, you can make it.

“You might doubt yourself and tell yourself you’re not capable. Others might say you can’t do it.

“But please, don’t give up. Have confidence in yourself, and keep going.

“You can do it – like I did!”

NHSGGC welcomes nurses of all ages and all backgrounds – and Professor Angela Wallace, Nurse Director at NHSGGC, thinks Jazz’s story shows that nursing can be a rewarding career for everyone.

She said: “I would like to welcome all our newly qualified nurses and midwives to the NHSGGC family.

“As Jazz’s story makes clear, age is no barrier to becoming a nurse, and I would encourage anyone who thinks they can make a positive contribution to this wonderful profession, to take the plunge and, as Jazz says, go for it.”

For more about this year’s intake of newly qualified nurses and midwives, go to the NHSGGC website.

Improving mental health nursing care

Review recommendations will benefit patients, staff and students

People affected by mental health issues can expect higher and more consistent standards of care following the publication of Scotland’s Mental Health Nursing Review.

The Review outlines ways to enhance and further support the mental health nursing profession. The paper was developed by mental health nurses and students, academics, with support from carers and people accessing mental health nursing care.

The Review makes a total of 24 recommendations including:

  • ensuring people accessing services have meaningful involvement in their mental health nursing care
  • improving support for newly qualified mental health nurses and sharing best practice
  • considering specific education needs for rural and island settings
  • improving access to post-registration learning for mental health nurses across all sectors

A new Mental Health Nursing Review Implementation Group will be established to ensure effective collaboration, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of the Review actions.

Mental Wellbeing Minister Tom Arthur said: “Through their expert care, compassion and dedication, mental health nursing staff make a significant and positive impact to people’s health and wellbeing every day.

“The Review focuses on their unique role, and it will ensure the profession is supported and empowered to drive the enhancement of mental health and wellbeing services now, and in the future.

“I want to thank all the mental health nursing staff and students, academics, carers and those people accessing care who engaged with and supported this work.

“I am looking forward to working collaboratively to deliver the ambition of ensuring Scotland is the best place for mental health nursing to flourish and where people live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives.”

Chair of Scotland’s first Mental Health Nursing Review, former Chief Nursing Officer, Professor Alex McMahon said: “It has been an honour as a mental health nurse to have chaired the review and to have heard from mental health nurses and those that represent people who use services across Scotland.

“The report and its recommendations, mean that patients and mental health nurses who deliver services now and, in the future, will benefit from the reforms.

“It will be important to ensure these recommendations are implemented, and one aspiration I and others share is that we will attract and retain even more people into undergraduate nursing degree programmes.

“I believe being a mental health nurse, is one of the best and most fulfilling careers you can chose.”

Mark Richards, Associate Chief Nursing Officer said: “Our Mental Health Nursing Review highlights the vital role mental health nurses play in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of the people of Scotland.

During our work on the Review, we heard that mental health nurses are at the heart of care delivery and that their relational expertise often has a transformational impact on people’s lives.

“Mental health nurses told us they are proud of the work they do. They strive every day to deliver compassionate, high-quality care, and to work with people who need expert support to enable recovery and promote wellbeing.  

“This Review is important in advancing the contribution of mental health nurses and will help ensure we have a profession that is skilled, well supported and sustainable – now and for many years to come.

“It was collectively produced by our mental health nurses in Scotland, and I look forward to us working together to deliver our ambitions.”  

Darren Fullarton, Associate Nurse Director for NHS Ayrshire and Arran and Chair of the Mental Health Nurse Leads Group for Scotland, said: “The national review of mental health nursing recognises and celebrates the important role that mental health nurses play in their support and compassionate care for people experiencing mental health issues. 

“The National Mental Health Nurse Lead Group are delighted to have had the opportunity to support this significant piece of work which captures views from those with lived experience, families and carers and from mental health nurses themselves to develop an ambitious vision for mental health nurses that exemplifies our commitment to care, compassion and connection.”

The Mental Health Nursing Review commenced in 2024 and was a key action within the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy’s  Workforce Action plan.

NHS Lothian Nurses honoured at prestigious RCN Awards

Huge congratulations to our incredible staff who have been recognised at this year’s RCN Nursing Awards!

NHS Lothian staff were recognised at this years RCN awards for their pioneering innovations, dedication and exceptional care.

Kath Williamson, Senior Clinical Nurse Specialist in Bariatric Care, picked up the Inspiring Excellence – Nursing Innovation and Research Award at the ceremony at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

Described as a pioneering nurse and researcher, Kath is dedicated to improving care for people living with severe obesity.

While working as a District Nurse, she identified a critical gap in services for housebound patients and went on to pursue a PhD to better understand their needs, experiences, and the associated costs of care. Her mixed-methods research has revealed fragmented services, widespread stigma, and significant unmet needs among this vulnerable group.

With the support of her CSO Fellowship, Kath established the NHS Lothian Bariatric Forum, a multidisciplinary group working to improve care coordination and outcomes for patients with complex obesity. Despite the limited clinical academic pathways for nurses in Scotland, Kath continues to lead innovative research, mentor others, and advocate for greater nurse involvement in academic work.

In a close second, Stacey Boyle, Midwife, and Marianne Hay, Senior Charge Midwife at St. John’s Hospital, were recognised as runners-up for their innovative scrubs, made from recycled NHS fleeces, that enable partners to provide vital skin-to-skin contact with their newborns after a caesarean section.

The special theatre scrubs allow newborns to nestle inside, regulating their heart rate and breathing, as well as assisting with immediate bonding, while the surgical team focus on the mum and the completion of the procedure.

Gillian McAuley, Nurse Director Acute, NHS Lothian, was named runner-up for the Clinical Leadership Award. Gillian was recognised for leading the development of a five year Nursing and Midwifery Strategic Plan, driving key initiatives like care assurance systems, digital care planning, and a BME career programme.

Through innovation, collaboration, and strategic leadership, she’s strengthened patient care and staff support.

Scott Taylor, Co-Chair of the Scottish Learning Disability Lead Nurse Group, was also a runner up for the Learning Disability Nursing Award. Along with Kerry Anderson, Scott has played a key role in advancing learning disability nursing across Scotland.

Through strategic leadership and national engagement, he’s helped raise the profile of the profession, tackled health inequalities, and ensured the needs of people with learning disabilities are reflected in national policy.

The South East Forensic Healthcare Team at the Royal Edinburgh and Associated Services, also came second for the nursing team of the year award.

The Team delivers trauma-informed, person-centred care to vulnerable individuals in the justice system. Their work spans forensic examinations, mental health support, and harm reduction services like naloxone distribution.

Partnering with agencies like Police Scotland, they tackle health inequalities and prevent drug-related deaths.

Alison MacDonald, Executive Nurse Director, NHS Lothian, said: “I’m incredibly proud of all our staff who have been recognised at this year’s RCN Awards.

“Congratulations to Kath on her outstanding achievement and to all our runners-up, whose dedication, innovation and compassion continue to raise the bar for nursing excellence.

“These accolades are a testament to the remarkable talent we have across NHS Lothian.”

For more information on the RCN awards check: 

https://www.rcn.org.uk/scotland/Get-involved/ScotlandNurseOfTheYear2025

Taskforce recommends actions to attract and retain nurses and midwives in Scotland

A taskforce has published 44 recommended actions on how to improve working conditions for Scotland’s nurses and midwives.

The Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce was established by the Scottish Government in 2023 to build on efforts to make Scotland the best place for nurses and midwives to work.  Chaired by Health Secretary Neil Gray, it brings together key stakeholders, including the Royal Colleges of Nursing and Midwifery, to engage with nursing and midwifery staff, understand the challenges they face and recommend ways to improve the profession.

A key part of this work was the Listening Project, which gathered insights from more than 4,000 nurses, midwives, students and academics to shape future improvements. The findings from the Listening Project have led to 44 recommended actions designed to improve recruitment and retention of staff and workplace conditions.

These actions include:

  • ensuring appropriate staffing levels so that all staff can take the breaks they are entitled to
  • reviewing data-inputting and paperwork requirements to reduce the administrative burden on nurses and midwives
  • developing national guidance on rostering and flexible working to ensure better work-life balance
  • ensuring nurses and midwives can participate in decision making and planning
  • widening entry routes into nursing and midwifery careers

The next stage of the taskforce will focus on implementation, with a dedicated group developing a detailed work plan and timeline that ensures these recommended actions are delivered effectively.

Accepting all 44 recommendations, Cabinet Secretary for Health, Neil Gray said: “Our nurses and midwives are the backbone of Scotland’s healthcare system and we are committed to ensuring they have the support, flexibility and workplace conditions to thrive.

“The publication of the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce report marks an important milestone; we have heard directly from staff about what matters most to them, and this has shaped the recommended actions which will deliver real change for nurses and midwives.

“I am very grateful to everyone who has taken the time to take part in this important piece of work. The Scottish Government will now work with our partners to deliver the actions contained in the report.”

Colin Poolman, RCN Scotland Director, said: “This is the culmination of two years of collaborative working, and we welcome the recommended actions announced today.

“We see this as a significant step and, as the implementation board begins its work, the recommendations should provide a strategic roadmap to begin to tackle the nursing retention and recruitment challenges in Scotland.

“Implementation of the recommendations will take time and investment, we look forward to playing a key role in the Implementation Board to ensure delivery and enable Scottish government to meet its aspiration of making Scotland the best place for nurses and midwives to work.”

Students come together for biggest ever nursing and midwifery careers day at Edinburgh Napier

More than 450 attend annual event

More than 450 students and almost 100 healthcare professionals have come together at Edinburgh Napier University’s biggest-ever nursing and midwifery careers day at its Sighthill campus.

Hosted in the University’s ENGAGE sports facility this week (4 Feb 2025), the event gave attendees the opportunity to meet with employers and learn more about available graduate roles in both nursing and midwifery.

Alongside the NHS, the range of healthcare professionals in attendance was wide and varied with organisations such as the Royal Navy Medical Branch, Royal Air Force, Marie Curie, CHAS, The Royal College of Nursing, William Quarrier Scottish Epilepsy Centre and private healthcare providers represented at the event.

Also in attendance were a range of Edinburgh Napier services including its Student Futures careers team – who helped organise the event – the University’s Alumni team, Bright Red Triangle, Edinburgh Napier’s hub for enterprise practice, a postgraduate recruitment team and a School of Health and Social Care research team.

Exhibitors were also able to undertake tours of the learning facilities at the University’s Sighthill campus, including its purpose-built Simulation and Clinical Skills Centre.

Students studying undergraduate and postgraduate Nursing, Midwifery, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Social Work programmes at Edinburgh Napier are taught within the centre, benefitting from realistic environments and NHS ward-like settings.

Professor Susan Dawkes, Dean of Edinburgh Napier’s School of Health and Social Care, said: “It was great to welcome so many employers on campus to meet our students and showcase the wealth of career options open to graduate nurses and midwives, from joining the NHS to opportunities to join the health and medical teams in the armed forces, or exploring some of the many other career options now open. 

“Employers too were delighted to join tours of our Simulation and Clinical Skills Centre, which remains at the forefront of practical training for our student nurses and midwives.”

Adam Watling, Head of Edinburgh Napier’s Student Futures team, said: “Our nursing and midwifery careers day has been one of the biggest and best yet, and we are so pleased with the reach it has had and the experience of our students and visiting health care professionals across the day. 

“The success is thanks to the effective collaboration between Student Futures and School of Health and Social and the planning and focus on securing a range of exhibitors for our many students to meet throughout the day.

“As a University, Edinburgh Napier is dedicated to ensuring that our students have the best possible careers support before and after graduation, and these types of events are a critical part of that commitment.

“We are looking forward to sharing success stories from across the day as we start to review the many insights that emerge from attendees, in the weeks and months to follow.”

Edinburgh Napier University is one of the largest providers of nursing and midwifery education in Scotland offering courses in a variety of nursing specialisms including adult nursing, child health nursing, learning disability nursing and mental health nursing.

The programmes are part of the University’s School of Health and Social Care which is home to a vibrant academic community of more than 3,000 students and 120 staff.

More information on the School itself can be found at:

https://www.napier.ac.uk/about-us/our-schools/the-school-of-health-and-social-care.

Celebrating 50 years of nursing – and Val shows no signs of slowing down!

Anyone who has had surgery under anaesthetic vaguely – and in many cases vividly – remembers the friendly face that was there for them when they woke.

Most likely, that person would have been a recovery nurse, the first person who gave the reassurance that they were safe as they opened their eyes.

Recovery nurses work in the post anaesthesia care units (PACUs) and are an essential part of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde hospitals. 

They assess vitals, manage pain, ensure patient comfort, and provide support during critical recovery periods.

They have a crucial role to play for all patients, but for children, their warmth and care is extra important. 

One recovery nurse who embodies this is Valerie Welch who works at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow. This month, Valerie celebrated her 70th birthday and remarkably 50 years of working in nursing.

Valerie qualified as a nurse down south in 1974 and moved to Scotland in 1986. In 1992, she trained in paediatrics and started her post in the RHC PACU seven years ago. She loves everything about it.
 
“Children are my favourite to work with. I enjoy everything about working with them,” said Valerie.
 
Last week, Valerie enjoyed a small celebration with her colleagues on the ward and shared some words on why she continues to do her job.
 
“I love the one-on-one care that is required with this job. The children are so vulnerable when they come around from surgery. We really need to be there for them, tell them they’re safe, and get their parents or carers in to be with them as soon as possible.
 
“There is no such thing as an average day in theatre recovery. It can be busy, but I’m never bored.
 
“I’m part of a fantastic team that I enjoy working with. As long as I can, I will be working here,” she said.
 
The Post Anaesthesia Care Unit Recovery Team shared a special comment for Valerie. They said: “Valerie has a remarkable, bubbly personality that everyone warms to, especially the children.
 
“You don’t achieve 50 years in nursing without having an excellent connection with patients and Valerie certainly has that with every kid that comes through our doors.
 
“We love that she is part of our team, and we wish her the happiest of birthdays and anniversaries.
 
“All the best, Val!”

Heriot-Watt University and Napier University join forces

Heriot-Watt University and Napier University join forces to accelerate health technology innovation and improve patient outcomes

A first-of-its-kind research collaboration between Heriot-Watt University and Edinburgh Napier University is bringing together engineering and nursing students to develop cutting-edge health technologies tailored to addressing real clinical needs.

The Edinburgh-based universities have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalising a joint programme which will see Heriot-Watt engineering students visit Edinburgh Napier’s specialised clinical simulation facilities to gain first-hand understanding of real healthcare scenarios and challenges.

These learnings, together with insights from Edinburgh Napier’s nursing students into patient needs and care, will drive collaborative projects focused on co-designing novel health solutions that target clinical issues. 

“Nurses are an untapped reservoir of innovative solutions for the health and care sector,” explains Cathal Breen, Professor of Simulation and Clinical Skills at Edinburgh Napier, which is Scotland’s only university to offer pre-registration training in all four nursing specialties and midwifery.

“However, the health sector workforce is not currently incentivised to come up and come forward with solutions. In our new agreement with Heriot-Watt, our students will identify potentially suitable clinical problems and work with engineering students at Heriot-Watt to design solutions to real-life clinical problems. It is hugely exciting.”

Maïwenn Kersaudy-Kerhoas is a Professor in Microfluidic Engineering at Heriot-Watt University and the lead academic for the university’s new global research institute in Health and Care Technologies. She said: “It has already proved to be a fantastic and fun learning experience for students from both the nursing and engineering programmes.

“This collaboration will ensure an excellent student experience and we are very enthusiastic about the interface between nursing and engineering. Nurses are the closest to patient needs on a daily basis, by championing this first-hand knowledge and expertise, we enable nurses to co-create and help deliver innovation.

“Alongside this, our engineering students benefit from detailed real-world feedback on their health and care engineering concepts. The professional advice of nursing practitioners and their network of patient engagement opportunities is invaluable as we continue to create the health and care technologies needed for the future.”

Professor Breen adds: “While nursing students are exposed to engineering innovation, when they are given the opportunity to contribute to development they are empowered to innovate in their future career.

“There is no doubt that technology is going to play a vital role in delivering health care solutions in the future.

“In September, Edinburgh Napier is launching a new Masters programme for clinicians trying to understand the opportunities and challenges that new technologies will bring – The MSc Clinical Healthcare Technology.

“This MoU with Heriot-Watt is another link in the chain to ensure we equip the UK’s future healthcare professionals with the skills, experiences, and opportunities they need to sustain a world-leading healthcare service.”

One of the Heriot-Watt engineering students involved in the pilot, Sree Choyathala, said: “Our visit to Edinburgh Napier University marked a significant milestone for our team, allowing us to conduct a successful test of our project prototype and derive essential conclusions.

“The impact of this experience resonated profoundly in the preparation of our design report, and we are sincerely grateful to Professor Kersaudy-Kerhoas for facilitating such a remarkable opportunity.”

Stacey Jenowska, Edinburgh Napier nursing student, said: “I found this activity very interesting and useful. It was great to hear about and see so many creative ideas on ways to improve the care we provide to patients.

“Going forward I feel this will help shape the support and care we can provide to patient groups of all ages.”

RCEM: ‘Now is the time for an Urgent and Emergency Care plan’

Responding to the latest Emergency Department performance figures published by NHS England for April 2022, Dr Katherine Henderson, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said: “The crisis in Urgent and Emergency Care continues to deteriorate.

“The data show 24,000 patients were delayed in an Emergency Department for 12-hours or more (from decision to admit to admission). This is a staggering and grim number and should seriously alarm all political and health leaders. Patients are coming to harm; now is the time for an Urgent and Emergency Care plan to tackle this crisis.

“The situation is more serious than it has ever been. Patients face long waits for an ambulance, long waits in an ambulance outside an Emergency Department, and long waits in the Emergency Department. These long waits delay care and treatment to patients who may be in a critical condition, and they prevent our highly skilled paramedics from returning to the community and responding to urgent and emergency calls.

“At the heart of the issue are reduced bed capacity in hospitals mixed with an increase in the number long-stay patients – social care patients who do not have sufficient support to return home or to the community – and widespread workforce shortages throughout the system.

“To tackle the crisis the government must publish a fully funded workforce plan that includes measures to retain existing staff, and open 10,000 more beds across the UK.”

Responding to the government’s announcement of more funding for nursing in care homes, Dr Henderson continued: “This announcement is welcome. Social Care nurses have long been undervalued and under-acknowledged. This increase in pay is a welcome step towards showing them the appreciation and gratitude they highly deserve.

“However, it is a shame to see that this increase in funding is limited to NHS-funded nursing care. The entire social care workforce deserves the same acknowledgement and reward. It is critical that during this crisis we attract and retain social care workers and value their time and effort by paying a wage that reflects the significance of their role.

“Good social care supports an efficient health service. Good social care can help prevent A&E attendances. Good social care will support patients moving in and out of hospital in a timely way. Crucially, good social care frees up space for other patients and increases flow throughout the hospital.”

750 Nursing and Midwifery posts vacant in NHS Lothian

‘STAFFING LEVELS ARE REACHING CRISIS POINT’

Julie Lamberth, RCN Scotland Board Chair, said: “I wanted to highlight statistics which have been published today from NHS Education for Scotland, which show a worrying rise in NHS Nursing and Midwifery vacancies.

“Across Scotland a record high of 4,854 nursing and midwifery posts are vacant, which is 7.1% of posts, while in NHS Lothian, 750 nursing and midwifery posts are vacant, which is 6.9% of posts.

“Staffing levels are reaching crisis point across Scotland. As well as these vacancies, a significant number of nursing staff are on work related sick leave through stress and other mental health issues. Unless this is addressed, proposals to remobilise services and increase elective capacity are simply unachievable and the NHS Recovery Plan’s proposals to recruit 1,500 additional staff woefully inadequate.

“RCN Scotland members are clear about what needs to be done. Out of the 39% of members who have told us they are thinking of leaving the nursing profession, 73% of respondents said “improved pay” and 49% said “better staffing levels” would make them feel more valued.

“Implementation of the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019, fair pay for nursing staff in all settings and robust workforce planning are needed urgently to ensure Scotland has the nursing staff it needs to remobilise services as we continue to deal with Covid-19.”

Lothian MSP Miles Briggs said: “The number of Nursing and Midwifery posts that we have vacant across NHS Lothian is extremely concerning.

“NHS Lothian staff work incredibly hard to care for everyone who comes through their door, but the current position is unsustainable. These vacancies need to be filled for health boards to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

“SNP Ministers have failed to workforce plan pre-pandemic and we are seeing the consequences now, with many nurses considering leaving the profession.”