Nurse Shortage Crisis Hits North Wales Health Board Hard

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has reported a significant shortage of registered nurses across NHS Wales, highlighting a total of at least 1,481 vacancies. Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is bearing the brunt of this crisis, with 451.5 posts currently unfilled. This alarming figure represents nearly one-third of the total vacancies recorded across the entire NHS Wales system.

The findings, detailed in the RCN’s annual Nursing in Numbers 2025 report, illustrate the increasing strain on the healthcare workforce. The report indicates that the shortfall in nursing staff is not only raising costs but is also negatively impacting patient care. Data acquired through Freedom of Information requests reveals that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is facing the highest number of unfilled nursing positions in Wales.

Despite the widespread shortage of nurses, some health boards have implemented recruitment freezes. This has resulted in challenges for newly qualified nurses attempting to secure full-time employment. The rising vacancy rates have led NHS Wales to depend heavily on temporary agency staff, with health boards spending a staggering £88.7 million on agency nurses in the 2024-25 period. The RCN asserts that this expenditure could instead fund 2,815 full-time newly registered nurses.

The RCN report also sheds light on systemic issues, including ongoing discrimination faced by nurses from minority backgrounds. It calls for further action under the Welsh Government’s Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan. The report’s findings indicate that a substantial 88.4% of nursing staff in Wales work additional hours at least once a week. Furthermore, more than half of those surveyed reported working three or more extra hours, with nearly 40% stating that these hours went unpaid.

Alarmingly, the survey also revealed that 38% of nursing staff in Wales are contemplating leaving or actively planning to exit their roles. In response to the growing crisis, the RCN has proposed 13 urgent recommendations aimed at addressing these challenges. These include protecting the registered nurse role, enhancing workforce data, and ensuring fair pay and opportunities for progression. The organization also advocates for increased investment in social care staff and the establishment of additional nursing student places, accompanied by better support mechanisms.

Helen Whyley, Executive Director of RCN Wales, emphasized the dire situation, stating, “These figures are a stark warning that our nursing workforce is still under intolerable strain and still not getting the respect it deserves.” She continued, “Patients in Wales deserve safe, consistent care. Our brilliant nursing workforce deserves fair pay, safe staffing levels and protection from abuse. The Welsh Government and NHS Wales must take the recommendations we’ve set out in our report and act on them now to keep nursing staff in Wales and restore public confidence in our services.”

Whyley also pointed out the lack of comprehensive data on registered nurse vacancies across all pay bands, stating, “It is unacceptable that all health boards in Wales do not count the number of vacancies of registered nursing posts across all pay bands. Without knowing this information, it is impossible for it to ensure effective workforce planning and for members of the public and stakeholders to effectively scrutinise the health boards.”

The RCN remains committed to collaborating with the government, health boards, and educational partners to develop practical solutions that will fill nurse vacancies, reduce reliance on agency staff, and promote fairness in the workplace. The future of nursing in Wales hangs in the balance as these urgent issues continue to unfold.