• NHS Digital publishes NHS vacancy statistics covering period 1 February 2015 to 31 March 2017
• Figures show there were more than 86,000 posts unfilled between January 2017 and March 2017
• We say issue of recruiting and retaining the right NHS workforce is now as serious as funding concerns

NHS Digital has published NHS vacancy data which shows that more than 86,000 posts were vacant between January 2017 and March 2017.

In March 2017 there were 30,613 advertised vacancy full-time equivalents published in England, this compares to 26,424 in 2016 and 26,406 in 2015.

Nurses and midwives accounted for the highest proportion of shortages, with 11,400 vacant posts in March 2017.

The head of analysis at NHS Providers, Phillippa Hentsch said:

“Trusts are telling us that the issue of being able to recruit and retain the right staff to deliver services is now as serious as concerns over funding.

Trusts are telling us that the issue of being able to recruit and retain the right staff to deliver the services is now as serious as concerns over funding.

“Our latest State of the NHS Provider Sector report found well over half of trusts were worried that they wouldn’t have the right quality or mix of staff to be able to deliver high quality care in six months.

“There are several factors behind this, including tough language tests, and the uncertainty that Brexit has created for current and potential EU staff. We are also seeing the impact of the pay cap, prompting staff to seek work elsewhere.

“Trusts will do all they can to ensure safe care for patients, but where they can not recruit to roles they may be forced to rely on expensive agency staff, or stop services altogether. Both of these options are unsustainable in the long term.”