Around 25% of senior mental health positions within NHS boards in Scotland remain unfilled or are staffed by locum workers, according to research conducted by the Scottish Liberal Democrats. The party obtained data through freedom of information legislation, showing that out of the 586 consultant psychiatrist roles, 162 were vacant late last year. Of these vacancies, 117 were filled by temporary staff.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats received responses from 13 out of 14 health boards in the country, covering a period from late October to early November. The findings highlight a concerning shortage of psychiatrists in senior roles, especially in rural and remote areas of Scotland.
Alex Cole-Hamilton, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, emphasized the urgent need for increased training of psychiatrists and the augmentation of mental health practitioners in GP surgeries. He expressed concern that the empty positions and reliance on temporary staff would worsen the already extensive waiting times for mental health services.
Cole-Hamilton also criticized the Scottish National Party (SNP) Government for a reduction of £50 million in the mental health budget in the previous winter. He alleged that this decision, along with First Minister Humza Yousaf’s failure to fulfill his promise of clearing waiting lists by spring, further exacerbated the mental health crisis.
Dr Pavan Srireddy, representing the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland, echoed these concerns, calling the workforce situation a crisis. Inadequate staffing levels pose risks to patient safety and can have a detrimental impact on mental health services. Srireddy stressed that staff morale is reaching an all-time low, and additional budget cuts could lead to increased burnout and a further exodus of mental health specialists.
The Scottish Government has been approached for comment on the matter.
The findings of this research highlight the critical staffing shortage within the NHS mental health sector in Scotland, particularly in senior positions. With a significant number of vacancies and an overreliance on temporary staff, the already extensive waiting times for mental health services are likely to be further impacted. The Scottish Liberal Democrats are calling for increased training and a higher presence of mental health practitioners in GP surgeries to address this crisis. The budget cuts made by the SNP Government and the failure to meet previous commitments have compounded the situation, according to the party. The Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland has also expressed deep concern, warning that patient safety is at risk due to the workforce crisis. The Scottish Government has been requested to provide a response regarding this pressing issue.
