The NHS is facing a recruitment crisis due to a lack of skilled staff which could hinder the delivery of key national targets around patient choice and the new GMS contract*, a survey from Primary Care Report has found.
NHS organisations are struggling to fill vacant positions for both clinical and non-clinical staff due to a severe shortage of candidates, both in terms of number and calibre. The survey of 46 primary care trusts (PCTs) found they had acute problems in recruiting clinicians such as GPs and nurses, as well as senior managers at board and executive level.
More than 78 per cent of respondents rated their current recruitment level as ëmanageableí or worse, while 68 per cent blamed a diminishing talent pool for their recruitment difficulties. More than a quarter of respondents (28 per cent) said they had 16 vacancies or more at the time of the survey, while the average PCT had more than 10 vacancies. Just one in 15 PCTs (7 per cent) had no vacancies.
Respondents highlighted five key skills missing from potential candidates. Top of the list were clinical skills - 60 per cent of respondents cited these as being in short supply. Other skill shortages were in ëcombined management and clinical experienceí (39 per cent), leadership (33 per cent), strategic planning (30 per cent) and managerial (30 per cent).
Respondents identified several barriers to recruitment including the need for new skill mixes in response to organisational change, and a lack of career development opportunities. In addition, 75 per cent of respondents said their PCT could do more to encourage diversity.
While the majority of respondents (80 per cent) said their PCT offered flexible working and further training as an incentive to potential candidates, over half said clearer career pathways were required within PCTs, and that more collaboration was needed with universities and training bodies. Pay also seems to be a key factor - less than one in five respondents said their PCT offered a ëgenerousí salary.
Commenting on the survey, Angela OíNeill, editor of Primary Care Report, said: ëPCTs face a number of key challenges in 2004. Unless they have the right people in place, with the right skills, they will really struggle to implement the Government’s reform agenda.í
For further information, please contact Angela OíNeill, editor of Primary Care Report. Email: aoneill@medicomgroup.com tel. 0208 481 8100
NHS recruitment crisis hinders delivery of Key reforms
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