McGrath Says Health Service Is Adrift As Staffing Gaps Persist
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA has said the latest Health and Social Care workforce statistics reveal a persistent staffing gap that continues to leave services exposed, staff overstretched and patients waiting longer for care.
Mr McGrath said that despite ongoing recruitment activity, vacancy levels have remained stubbornly high over the past three years, hovering around 6,000 unfilled posts.
He said this demonstrates that recruitment is largely replacing staff who are leaving, rather than expanding workforce capacity to meet growing demand.
South Down MLA Colin McGrath said: “These figures show a system treading water rather than moving forward.
“When vacancies remain at this level year after year, it illustrates for us that we are not strengthening our health service but rather managing a permanent shortage.
“Nursing pressures remain especially alarming, with almost one third of all vacancies in nursing and midwifery roles. Nurses already represent roughly one third of the entire Health and Social Care workforce and are the backbone of day-to-day care across hospital and community settings.
“Our health service is operating with very little breathing space.
“That lack of resilience is felt every day by staff working under relentless pressure and by patients facing delays and uncertainty.
“Safe staffing legislation is not an optional reform. It is a fundamental patient safety measure, yet staff and patients remain without clarity on when this will be delivered.
“Without that direction, the system is left adrift. The Minister must provide clarity on when we can expect to see this legislation introduced.”
