Nurses question plan to recruit 21,000 mental health staff

Nursing chiefs have questioned government plans to recruit 21,000 mental health workers by 2021, saying it is doubtful the ambitious target can be met in such a short timespan.

Jeremy Hunt today announced a £1.3bn recruitment drive to target nurses, therapists and other mental health professionals, with the aim to treat an additional million patients and offer 24-hour, seven-day-a week-care.

The news was welcomed by mental health charities, although some said the overwhelming demand for services has been exascerbated by NHS cuts and questioned how the hiring targets could be reached.

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"It is welcome that the government is setting this laudable ambition and investment in the mental health workforce is always welcome. However, the government’s policies appear not to add up," said Janet Davies, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing.

"Under this government, there are 5,000 fewer mental health nurses and that goes some way to explaining why patients are being failed."

In order to meet the 2021 deadline, she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the new nurses would need to be in training now, yet many are being deterred by the collapse of NHS-funded courses and bursary schemes.

According to NHS Digital, more than 86,000 NHS posts are already vacant, including 11,400 positions for nurses and midwives.

Earlier this month, the Nursing and Midwifery Council reported that 20 per cent more people left the nursing register than joined last year.

Brexit has been linked to a 96 per cent drop in the number of EU nurses applying to work in the UK, says The Independent.