Hospital challenged to solve recruitment crisis

2.22.52pm GMT Mon 15th Jan 2007

Local MP Tim Farron has challenged the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust to solve its recruitment crisis. In recent statements, the trust has conceded that it is having to close beds at the Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal because it doesn't have enough staff.

In his letter to the trust, Tim said: "From speaking to dozens of staff at all levels within the hospital it is clear to me that the recruitment and retention problems have arisen in large part due to the sense that there is a blight hanging over the hospital. Given that the expectation that option 3 will be enacted has led to the current staffing crisis, it strikes me that the Trust could solve this problem at a stroke by publicly declaring that the emergency medical wards will not be closed.

"In addition, I am concerned that given the staffing crisis the Trust has not been recruiting to its temporary staff bank for many months, and that posts are being advertised are not being advertised widely in the press of in health service print publications."