Official figures have revealed there are 182 vacancies in Scotland’s NHS for health visitors, who will be expected to take a major role in the SNP’s state guardian scheme.
That compares to just 144 in March last year, meaning 8.6 per cent of the workforce is unfilled. Of those 182 vacancies, 26 have lain unfilled for more than three months.
Following the revealing of the statistics, the Scottish Conservatives have again urged the SNP to pause the scheme to ensure those tasked with implementing it will be ready.
Shadow education secretary Liz Smith said the party still wanted to see the policy scrapped altogether, but that the least ministers could do would be to put the brakes on.
It is the latest blow for a project which has been criticised for being intrusive, and risks diverting resources from those who need it most.
Scottish Conservative shadow education secretary Liz Smith said:
“There are many reasons why the SNP should press pause on this scheme.
“Those who are tasked with implementing it aren’t sure how to, and the families it will affect are unclear on the impact.
“Now we learn there are scores of vacancies across Scotland among the health visitor workforce.
“That’s going to make it even harder for this unpopular and intrusive policy to work.
“It’s typical of the SNP to dream up something like this without bothering to check if there are enough people to take it on.
“We want to see the law scrapped, and have done from the start.
“But failing that, the Scottish Government must at least recognise the need for pausing it until people are ready.”