by Lucy Ashton
Anas Sarwar will today pledge to end the scandal of poor NHS workforce planning and make sure the people trained in Scotland build their careers in Scotland.
Ahead of Scottish Labour conference, Mr Sarwar has announced that Scottish Labour government would introduce a new “Train Here, Stay Here” policy to tackle staffing shortages across the NHS and social care system.
Under the plans, any Scottish medical, nursing or dental student who takes a funded place at a Scottish university would, after graduating, be expected to work in Scotland’s NHS or social care system for at least five years, or repay their tuition support and bursaries.
The Scottish Labour leader said the policy is part of a wider effort to fix the SNP’s failure on workforce planning, which has left Scotland with high vacancy rates while too many nurses and doctors struggle to get training places and clear career pathways.
As part of the wider plan, Mr Sarwar will also commit to a new 10-year NHS workforce strategy, designed with the professions, to properly link university places, training posts and long-term career development.
A Scottish Labour government will:
- Introduce a new 10-year NHS workforce plan, designed with the professions, to align university places, training posts and long-term workforce need.
- Change the rules so publicly funded Scottish medical, nursing and dental graduates are expected to work in Scotland’s NHS or social care system for at least five years, or repay tuition support and bursaries.
- Improve retention through flexible working arrangements, helping staff balance work and family life and supporting experienced professionals to stay in work longer.
- End the sticking plaster approach to NHS staffing by properly linking training, recruitment and career progression.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, right, said: “We will fix the SNP’s mess by ending the scandal of poor workforce planning.
“Scotland has high vacancy rates across the NHS, while too many nurses and doctors struggle to get the training places and career pathways they need. That failure of planning is letting down staff and patients alike.
“The NHS workforce is our greatest asset, and a Scottish Labour government will treat it that way. We will back staff properly, improve retention through flexible working, and make sure experienced professionals can stay in work for longer.
“We will also introduce a new 10-year NHS workforce plan, designed with the professions, so training, recruitment and career progression finally line up with Scotland’s needs.
“But we need to go further. If Scotland pays for your training, Scotland should benefit from your skills.
“That is why we will change the rules so that Scottish medical, nursing and dental students on funded university places will be expected to work in Scotland’s NHS or social care system for at least five years after graduating, or repay their tuition support and bursaries.
“This is about fairness to taxpayers, fairness to patients, and fairness to NHS staff who are too often stretched because the workforce simply is not there.
“Scottish Labour will end the sticking plaster approach, plan properly, retain talent, and make sure the people we train in Scotland can build their careers serving patients in Scotland’s NHS.”
The policy would apply to Scottish medical, nursing and dental students taking funded places at Scottish universities.
Under the policy, graduates would be expected to work in Scotland’s NHS or social care system for at least five years after qualifying, or repay tuition support and bursaries.
Scottish Labour would maintain free tuition, but introduce this requirement to ensure Scotland benefits from the public investment made in training NHS staff.
The policy sits alongside a wider commitment to a new 10-year NHS workforce plan, designed with the professions, to align training places, recruitment and career progression with Scotland’s long-term needs.
Scottish Labour has also said a future workforce strategy would place a stronger focus on retention, including flexible working to support staff and keep experienced professionals in the NHS for longer.
Website: https://www.scottishlabour.org.uk.
Top of page: Young people in training for NHS jobs with the local Health Board.
What utter tosh if I may opine.
What we need is job creation, a restoration of manufacturing and support to drive economic development. We need to get our people working , our country working, and our services up to speed.
The NHS do a good job. Its a big machine. And the staff for the most part are absolutely hard working and committed.
Not so i’d say though with regard to the politicos who use the NHS and political football. And nether the politicos who want to privatise the NHS.
Starmer in England is driving through NHS privatisation. And those who can pay can now queue jump. And in Scotland we face the
same. Labour are talking about introducing charging.
And meanwhile the SG and senior managers spend a fortune in fighting woo woo woke woke trans rights agendas. Money that could, and should be spent on health care.
Anyway, on a more serious note I see that the Labour vote in Gorton and Denton collapsed yesterday from over 50% to 25% and into third place in the by election.
Looks like the grim reaper is out and about and one has to wonder why?