THE Welsh government has been urged to take immediate action to address the severe shortage of consultant nurses.
Consultant nurses are highly experienced practitioners who specialise in a specific field, which can range from urgent and emergency care to mental health and learning disabilities.
The Welsh government directly provided initial funding for consultant nurses at the beginning of devolution, but this has long come to an end, with funding now being the responsibility of health boards and trusts.
The Royal College of Nursing in Wales says that current workforce planning does not adequately support the recruitment or retention of staff in this key role.
A report published by the union today warned that the number of consultant nurses has not recovered since the Welsh government ended its funding. It found that many posts had been cut due to budget constraints and that some health boards had employed only one consultant nurse full time.
RCN Wales executive director Helen Whyley said: “The failure to invest in this role not only jeopardises the care of patients but also stifles the innovative contribute to the future of NHS Wales that nurses can make.
“Some health boards have started to invest in consultant nurses recently, but the overall picture is very disappointing, with numbers remaining too low and many regions unable to meet the diverse healthcare needs of their populations and therefore the government priorities.”
Ms Whyley added that the union is urging the Welsh government to act swiftly to implement a national programme to address the shortage and ensure that an “evidence-based approach” is used to employ the optimal number of consultant nurses.
RCN has called for the programme to be integrated into the upcoming NHS nursing strategic workforce plan.
The Welsh government said its national workforce implementation plan aims to promote the roles of consultant nurses within teams across NHS Wales and outlines recommendations for health boards to support career development and education at advanced practice levels.
