Дефицит кадров в западном доверии вырос на 21% за год

THE number of vacancies within the Western Trust has risen by more than 20 per-cent in the space of a year. New Department of Health figures show the Trust had 1,224 vacancies being actively recruited for at the end of June 2026, compared with 1,010 during the same period last year. The increase of 21.2 per-cent was the largest percentage rise recorded among the five health trusts. Health campaign group, Save Our Acute Services (SOAS) has described the figures as an ‘indictment’ of the Western Trust’s handling of its staffing pressures. The campaign group also highlighted figures showing there were 138 medical and dental vacancies within the Western Trust, including 50 consultant posts and 16 locum consultant positions. SOAS spokesperson Donal O’Cofaigh said the number of consultant medical vacancies at the Trust was more than twice those of all other Trusts with the exception of Belfast. “What is even more concerning is that the Western Trust is the only health trust where the number of vacancies has continued to increase over the past five years,” he added. “Over the last year has an increase of over 21.1 per-cent which is a shocking reflection on recruitment and retention.” Mr O’Cofaigh also pointed to concerns raised during a recent RQIA inspection relating to the suspension of emergency general surgery at the South West Acute Hospital. He said overseas recruitment initiatives, including the Trust’s ‘Meet us in Mumbai’ campaign, had failed to reverse the increase in vacancies. “Rather than cutting services to stay within austerity budgets, the Western Trust should be standing up for services and showing ambition,” he added.