When the number of vacancies in other areas such as operating theatres or midwifery is added in, the total number grows to 63, which is a 12.2% vacancy rate.
The Health Department is using the sudden increase in vacancies to explain the figures given at a Scrutiny Hearing in February, when officials said the vacancy rate was much lower, at around 5%. A spokesman commented:
“At the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel hearing on 23 February, a figure of 5% was given for nursing vacancies in general ward areas of the Hospital – there were 22 such vacancies at that point. There have been several departures in the two-and-a-half months since the Scrutiny hearing, meaning that the number of vacancies in general ward areas has approximately doubled to 45 posts.”
He went on to point out that of the total number of 63 vacancies, work is already in place to fill some of them:
“All vacancy statistics of this type are snapshots giving the picture at a particular point in time. The numbers fluctuate constantly as new staff are hired and others leave. Not all vacancies are open to recruitment, as around one-third of the vacant posts have been offered, with successful applicants going through clearance or awaiting a start date to come into post.
“This reflects that fact that managers are pro-actively recruiting and taking steps to address the vacancy situation. There are also approximately 10 posts on hold awaiting newly-qualified nurses to start in post in September – this factor causes a seasonal increase in the months leading up to September.”
Health Minister Andrew Green added: “My officers were not giving misleading information, they were answering the questions put to them at the time with answers that were accurate at the time.”