Thursday, January 04, 2007

Shortage of NHS staff predicted

Job cuts are proposed at NHS trusts across England


There will be a shortage of GPs and nurses in four years' time, but the NHS will have to shed hospital doctors, leaked government documents show.

The prediction of a shortfall of 14,000 nurses was included in the Department of Health paper, it was reported.

The strategy has been labelled a "yo-yo attitude" to planning. The leak comes amid news of extensive job cuts as the NHS tries to save money.

But the government said it was a "prudent and sensible" analysis.

The leaked documents were reported in the Health Service Journal.

The draft version of the NHS pay and workforce strategy for 2008 to 2011 for England showed the health service will experience a shortage of 1,200 GPs, 14,000 nurses and 1,100 junior and staff-grade doctors by 20