HE NHS in south Cumbria and Lancashire faces workforce shortages, retention issues and ‘insufficient’ staff in training – a new report has revealed.

A report prepared for the health and adults overview and scrutiny committee for Westmorland and Furness Council sets out the challenges the NHS faces in recruiting and retaining staff in the area.

The report says: “South Cumbria as a place has its own distinct workforce challenges.

"Its size and rurality, with a dichotomy between Furness (poor housing, competition for employment due to BAE presence and its geographical position as a peninsula on the far western coast of Cumbria) compared to Westmorland (expensive housing, elderly population (with a high demand for services) and a national park that brings with it an area of outstanding beauty but many restrictions).

“In addition, the influx of tourists bringing seasonal changes in service demand exacerbates the situation. The challenges to retain and attract the workforce are many.”

According to the report adult social care is facing ‘unprecedented pressures nationally’, with staff leaving roles at a higher rate than they are replaced, with figures showing an estimated 32.6 per cent of nurses in adult social care left their roles in 2022/23.

Labour market data for Barrow, Copeland and South Lakeland shows that between 2012 and 2020 there was a decline in the working age population (16-64 years) of over 8,000 people, a decrease in the population aged 16-29 of around 2,500 and an increase in those aged 65+ of over 6,500.

The report adds: “In Lancashire and South Cumbria we face workforce shortages, retention issues, insufficient staff in training, and significant competition for health and care posts.

"On top of this are increasing economic challenges, rendering the need to use the health and care workforce more innovatively and efficiently more crucial than ever before.

“These factors present a clear case for creating a co-developed, flexible, and resilient workforce strategy to support long term system sustainability.”

According to the report a programme has been established to tackle workforce challenges across the area.

Amongst work taking place, the widening access to quality work steering group has facilitated in depth discussions around some key challenges specific to south Cumbria such as ‘talent drainage to BAE Systems’ in the Barrow area.

The report says: “We are now working with BAE Systems to support the development of their new Careers Hub in Barrow to be reflective of wider opportunities and we are working together to increase recruitment to the area by offering partner / family interviews across sectors.”

There will also be a ‘rolling programme’ of recruitment and careers events across south Cumbria and surrounding areas, with a careers and engagement event set to take place in Barrow on March 6.

Members of the health and adults overview and scrutiny committee will discuss the report on March 7 at Kendal Town Hall.