A GROUND-BREAKING programme aimed at bringing former nurses back on to wards could be rolled out across the country following a successful pilot.
Earlier this year nursing agency ScotNursing said it was struggling to find enough qualified staff to plug gaps in rotas.
Although the number of people treated in the country’s hospitals rose by 429,000 from 2005 to 2014, the number of nurses has only increased by 3,000.
Now NHS chiefs are considering bringing former nursing staff back into the profession.
The Return to Practice scheme is initially being delivered by Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. It is the first of its kind in Scotland to retrain former nurses and midwives and the initial batch of 18 participants, who have guaranteed jobs waiting for them with NHS Grampian, are nearing the end of their clinical placements.
The second cohort is set to begin its studies and Gerry Lawrie, deputy director of workforce at NHS Grampian, said other boards may also adopt the strategy. The news comes as figures show the health board has a staff turnover of about 11 per cent, one of the highest in the country.
Lawrie said: “We have always worked closely with our local universities but this is a truly unique partnership that takes those links to a new level. We are delighted with how successful it’s been. It’s great to see that work attracting considerable interest from elsewhere in the country and there are now a number of other Scottish NHS boards looking at the potential of developing similar schemes in their own areas.”
Elaine Lee, from Aberdeen, left nursing for a five-year career in the pharmaceutical industry but is now lead heart failure nurse with NHS Grampian.
The 44-year-old said: “I was a little anxious about returning to start with and, while studying at university level is quite daunting, the academic staff are there to support and guide you to develop your study skills.
“It’s easy to forget just how much of a difference you can make for patients and there’s a lot to be said for the job satisfaction you get from knowing you are doing something really worthwhile in life. I’m not sure I’d be able to get that anywhere else. That’s what really sealed my decision to come back and I haven’t regretted it for a moment. I still come across some familiar faces which is great but most people treat you as if you’ve never been away.
“One thing that has changed is the range of flexible working options that are on offer now, so I’d encourage anyone tempted to come back to look at it seriously, no matter what their personal circumstances are.”
The programme is funded by the Scottish Government and Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “I welcome the work under way in NHS Grampian to retrain former nurses and midwives under our national Return to Practice scheme.
“Earlier this year we announced investment of £450,000 over three years to encourage former nurses and midwives back into the profession. This will enable about 75 former nurse and midwives to retrain each year and re-enter employment.
“In addition we have funded an increase in the number of nurses and midwives in training again this year by a further three per cent, on top of the six per cent increase the Scottish Government announced last year.
“This is the kind of careful long-term planning and investment our NHS needs and shows our commitment to increasing the numbers of qualified nurses and midwives in our hospitals.”
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