The number of vacant nursing jobs reached a new high in the quarter to the end of September 2017, according to figures from NHS Digital which suggests a staffing crisis.

Data from NHS Digital revealed that there were 34,260 vacant NHS nurse and midwifery posts advertised in the quarter ending September 2017, an increase of 2,400 on the previous quarter. Meanwhile, the NHS filled one nurse job for every 7 posts advertised across England.

Broken down by region, statistics show that the NHS in the Thames Valley area hired 5 nurses for 1,957 advertised posts (one in 400) and the NHS in North West London recruited 42 for 2,545 posts (less than one in 50). The West Midlands NHS filled the greatest number of posts – hiring 1,196 for 2,817 roles advertised.

Further to that, recent data has shown that more nurses are leaving than entering the workforce with one in ten nurses leaving the NHS in England each year.

 “These figures pull back the curtain to reveal an NHS desperately short of nurses. The Government can no longer deny the staffing crisis,” Janet Davies, Chief Executive and General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said.

“The next generation of British nurses has been deterred by the current whirlwind tearing through the NHS – record pressure, lack of funding and poor pay for staff. It has never been busier but is shedding experienced nurses quicker than it can find new ones. Earlier cuts to training places are exacerbating the problem just as long-serving staff feel demoralised and pushed to leave nursing,” Davies said.

“When the Government allows nursing on the cheap, patients can pay the highest price. It is time to draw a line under this false economy with urgent investment in services and those who provide them – including a pay rise above inflation – and legislation to make Ministers accountable for workforce planning and safe staffing levels.”