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Over one million days of staff time for nurses and midwives have been lost due to a growing mental health crisis . The staggering toll works out at nearly 3,000 years for the frontline staff who are central to the NHS . Trade unions have warned about rising stress due to workload issues in the health service and the impact of dealing with the aftermath of covid. Figures obtained by the Scottish Lib Dems show 1,091,134 days of staff time for nursing and midwifery staff have been lost in the past five years. The number spiked last year when it jumped 15% from 221,357 days lost to 253,873. NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde reported the highest number last year with a total of 64,528 days. The same year figure for NHS Lothian was 40,900 while it was 36,328 for NHS Lanarkshire. Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “We have been raising concerns for years now about the stress and pressure that NHS staff are under. “When nurses and midwives are stressed and run off their feet, they are in no position to provide the highest quality care for their patients. “We believe Scotland deserves better than this. SNP health secretaries have come and gone but on their watch the situation is simply getting better. Mental health is still treated like a second class service. “The government must urgently rewrite their failed recovery plan so that it prioritises the recruitment and retention of hardworking staff, preventing burnout and ensuring there are enough staff on each shift. “I want staff and patients to know that my party is on their side and we have a realistic plan to get things done. We want to deliver first-rate health care and an end to staff being run ragged on every shift so you can see your GP, dentist or mental health professional when you need them. Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “We are working to make Scotland the best place for nurses and midwives to work. Our NHS staff do incredible work every day, often in very challenging circumstances, and their welfare and mental health is a top priority. “Over the past decade, Scotland’s NHS workforce has grown significantly, with 3,267 midwives, up 11%, and 64,059 nurses, up 14%, helping to strengthen care for mothers, babies, and patients across the country. “To support our staff, we offer a range of wellbeing resources, including a 24/7 compassionate listening service, confidential mental health treatment through the Workforce Specialist Service, and access to psychological therapies. Our National Wellbeing Hub also provides self-care tools and signposting to additional mental health support.” To sign up to the Daily R ecord Politics newsletter, click here
