Increase in Grampian Nursing Staff Welcomed by MSP

Local MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed new figures which show more than 176 additional nursing and midwifery staff have joined NHS Grampian over the last year (full time equivalent).

The latest figures follow last month’s announcement that 19 extra consultants have joined the organisation, bringing the total number hired since April 2014 to 28.

NHS Grampian Chief Executive Malcolm Wright pledged that the organisation would continue to build on the recent successes and said it is committed to providing the highest standards of care in Scotland.

Commenting, Banffshire & Buchan Coast SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson said:

“This is very welcome progress from NHS Grampian. The new Chief Executive has set the organisation the right challenges and to meet those, it needs to ensure it has the staff numbers in all of its facilities.

“We know that we have a problem in the North-east in terms of attracting certain categories of professionals, health workers certainly, but also in teaching and other professions. The jobs are here for people who are qualified and want to come here. The real question is: what can we do to make more people want to come here? Work is ongoing with the universities to address this, which is very important.

“This is a move in the right direction by NHS Grampian and I look forward to this being built on by the new Chief Executive and his team.”