East Lancashire hospital chiefs look at plans to call in army

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Battle-experienced medics could be called into hospitals


HOSPITAL bosses are drawing up plans in which army medics could help plug gaps in their workforce.

The Royal Blackburn and Burnley General hospitals are considering the move after struggling to recruit enough doctors in recent years, which has led to millions being spent on expensive agency staff.
It comes after Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals Foundation Trust revealed similar plans to offer clinical placements for members of the armed forces, saying it had held ‘extremely positive’ meetings with the Army Medical Directorate.

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT), along with trusts across the country, has had a shortage of emergency consultants and middle grade doctors. Its current vacancy rate across the whole organisation is about five per cent.

A spokesman said: “We are drafting a recruitment and retention strategy which will incorporate medical staffing.

“One of the aspects of the strategy is how to tap into skills of armed forces personnel who may be a useful resource for us.

“The recruitment of medical staff across the country is extremely competitive with some areas of national shortage.

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“And we are therefore keen to maximise our advantage where possible over other NHS providers in order to secure the best talent within ELHT and to minimise our locum and temporary spend.

“Our recruitment leads are working with divisional directors to progress this work.”

The Army employs qualified doctors who provide routine primary healthcare, immediate first aid and life-saving trauma care.

It also employs medical support officers, pharmacists and physiotherapists.

The Royal Army Medical Corps is responsible for maintaining the health of servicemen and women.
http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/ne ... l_in_army/

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