Recruitment and Retention in the NHS

Part of 4. Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services – in the Senedd at 4:01 pm on 31 January 2023.

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Photo of Heledd Fychan Heledd Fychan Plaid Cymru 4:01, 31 January 2023

(Translated)

Thank you, Minister. When I've visited hospitals and picket lines in my region, staff have shared with me time and again the immense stress and pressure that they're under and the fact that many of their experienced colleagues are leaving on a weekly basis. They can no longer cope with the pressure that they're under, the stress of not being able to give the best possible care to all patients due to the scale of demand, and the stress as well as the day-to-day working patterns put in place. You and I both heard harrowing evidence in an event here in the Senedd from staff in our emergency departments describing the daily experience of going to work and how they're signing leaving cards for colleagues on a weekly basis.

Time and time and again, you say that there are more staff working for the NHS than ever before, but obviously on the ground, the story is very different. So, why is there this difference between the day-to-day experiences of staff working on the front line who tell us about experienced colleagues leaving, but you keep telling us that there are more and more staff available to the health service? So, what's being done to address this dreadful situation? Because we are saying that there are more staff, but we're not recognising how much expertise is being lost on a weekly basis. And what's the plan to address this?