BAILLIE ACCUSES SNP OF “ABANDONING” NURSES AS 1,100 JOBS AXED

By Lucy Ashton

Scottish Labour has accused the SNP of breaking its promise not to cut frontline staff as it reveals over 1,100 nursing and midwifery jobs have been cut so far in 2024.

Under questioning from Scottish Labour, Finance Secretary Shona Robison dismissed the suggestions that nursing posts were being cut, claiming that “essential posts on the front line…will be protected in terms of recruitment”.

However analysis by Scottish Labour has demolished this pledge, revealing that 1,152 nursing and midwifery jobs had already been cut by the end of June – before the current round of budget cuts began.

At the end of 2023, there were a total of 70,980 whole time equivalent nursing and midwifery posts in Scotland – however by the end of June 2024 this had plummeted to 69,828.

These revelations raise fresh questions about the SNP’s claim that “essential” jobs – something that has still not been defined in any way – will be protected amid budget cuts.

The SNP government has admitted that it is planning to make £116 million of cuts to the health and social care budget this year, despite NHS waiting lists recently hitting a record high.

Scottish Labour Health spokesperson Jackie Baillie has repeatedly raised concerns about reports that nursing and midwifery graduates are struggling to find jobs due to posts being cut.

It has been reported that large numbers of newly -qualified paediatric nurses and midwifery graduates have been unable to secure jobs. All the paediatric nurses at Glasgow Caledonian University were reportedly told there were no available jobs within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde at the end of the recruitment process.

These job cuts also call into question the SNP government’s ability to meet its legal requirements on safe staffing levels in the NHS.

Jackie Baillie, left, said “The SNP government’s empty promise to protect frontline jobs has been blown out of the water already.

“Even before the scale of the financial chaos was made public, the SNP was quietly cutting nursing and midwifery jobs from our NHS.

“It beggars belief that as our NHS is fighting for survival, with waiting lists at a record high and patients languishing in corridors, the SNP is getting rid of frontline staff.

“NHS nurses have gone above and beyond to keep services going and keep patients safe but once again they have been abandoned by the SNP government.

“This reckless SNP government is at risk of breaching its legal duty to ensure our NHS has the staff it needs to keep patients safe.

“Scotland cannot keep paying the price for the SNP’s financial mismanagement and waste – it’s time for change.”

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