More than half of NHS ambulance services have begun trying to recruit paramedics from abroad amid a desperate national shortage of trained staff. NHS turns to Poland and Australia for paramedics in desperate staff shortage – Telegraph New figures show NHS trusts are turning to Poland, Australia and Ireland in a bid to plug vacancy rates which are now as high as one in four in many parts of the country. In total, six of England’s 10 ambulance trusts say they are now making plans to recruit from abroad, or have recently hired foreign paramedics. The growing crisis comes as the Health Secretary and unions prepare to enter last ditch talks in a bid to avert a 12 hour strike by paramedics and hospital staff planned for Thursday, in a dispute over pay. If the strike goes ahead, GPs and hospital staff will be drafted in an attempt to fill the gaps. NHS trusts have long gone abroad in search of nurses to fill staffing shortages, with the number soaring in recent years.
Click on the link to read more
Filed under: Uncategorized, Abroad, NHS, shortage
