Independent group councillors Willie Scobie and Dougie Campbell say they are “gravely concerned” about the challenges faced by NHS Dumfries and Galloway this winter.
The pair will table a motion at next week’s Dumfries and Galloway Council meeting calling for extraordinary measures in an extraordinary situation.
The proposed motion states: “In valuing the crucial work of our excellent NHS staff at all levels, we must also recognise the unrelenting and severe pressure they are under, with reports from professional bodies and unions that many staff are believed to be at breaking point.
“We note the ever-increasing impact the delayed discharge of patients has on NHS Dumfries and Galloway, with the unsustainable shortage of bed spaces within our main hospital facilities, due to bed blocking.
“We understand the delayed discharge figures have reached as many as 49 and, many patients cannot be discharged because of the shortage of care at home packages.
“We also understand there is an estimated 3000 hours of unmet care needs at home.
“As an immediate measure, Dumfries and Galloway Council calls on both the Scottish and UK Governments to explore how asylum seekers, refugees and migrant workers with relatable qualifications and professional experience in health and social care could readily be utilised to address current NHS staff recruitment shortages.”
The motion continues: “In the medium to long term, we call on both governments to plan for the training of nurses and home carers to fill the huge number of vacancies that exist in the health and social care sector.”
The Refugee Council runs a programme called ‘Building Bridges’ in partnership with the NHS which helps people in London who were health professionals in their home countries to reconnect with their professional careers and work within the UK health service.
Between 2009 and 2021, this led to 147 refugee doctors being employed in the NHS, while 189 have been given work in other healthcare roles.
And during the pandemic, 23 refugee doctors supported by the programme joined the NHS workforce just in time to help with the unprecedented demand for healthcare caused by Covid-19.
Councillors Scobie and Campbell will call for the support of other elected members at next week’s full council meeting in formally requesting that the Scottish and UK governments expand such a practice for the benefit of over-stretched health boards in Dumfries and Galloway and beyond.
