The NHS faces a crippling staff exodus in Tayside and Fife as nearly a quarter of the workforce admit they are looking at quitting in the next year.
Thousands of health workers across the region revealed they are poised to leave in the NHS Annual Staff Survey published yesterday, which paints a bleak picture of employee morale.
In Tayside and Fife, the survey suggests that 4,500 people across its whole workforce are thinking of moving on.
It comes at a time when health boards are desperate to recruit staff amid an ageing population and depleting pools of potential staff.
It comes on the back of what bosses openly admit has been a tough year for NHS Tayside, which has included needing Government bail-outs to balance the books, severe GP shortages and massive spending on agency staff.
Labour MSP Jenny Marra said the survey will make “grim reading” for the health minister.
“With just under a quarter of NHS staff in Tayside looking to leave within the next 12 months, the SNP need to start addressing the problem of work pressure and low morale,” she said.
Jim Hume, the Scottish Liberal Democrats’ health spokesman, said the NHS is “already battling against a recruitment crisis” and with the revelation that so many are thinking of leaving in the coming months it could be “make or break for the organisation”.
SNP MSP Graeme Dey has raised concerns in Parliament over Angus’ ability to care for its ageing population.
He said his party are taking up the challenge adding there has been a 7.2% increase in the number of staff employed within NHS Tayside.
Health Secretary Shona Robison said they will learn from the findings and are filling NHS posts.
“Under this government NHS staff numbers have risen to a record high, with more consultants, nurses and midwives delivering care for the people of Scotland,” she said.
“We are also committed to training and retaining our nursing staff which is why we have increased student nursing and midwifery intakes and invested £450,000 over the next three years to reintroduce a national return to practice scheme.”
George Doherty, NHS Tayside’s human resources director, said they had “faced a difficult past 12 months” that will “no doubt have impacted on our staff”.
“We are refocusing our efforts on ensuring that everyone lives our core values and priorities,” he added.
“Over the next year we will be working with our board, our trades unions, and our staff to make sure these are at the heart of everything we do.”