Justin Madders MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Minister, commenting on the BBC’s figures on NHS staff vacancies, said:

“These figures show the scale of the staffing crisis now engulfing the NHS in England.

“The Tories decision to cut nurse training places during the last Parliament has left hospital wards dangerously understaffed - and it is patient care which is suffering. Hospital bosses are being forced to either recruit from abroad or waste huge amounts of money on expensive agency staff.

“It is little wonder NHS staff are feeling so over-worked and under-valued. 

“Unfortunately, this situation is likely to worsen because of David Cameron’s plan to scrap student nurse bursaries and discourage the next generation of frontline staff. 

“Ministers need to start respecting NHS staff and tell them how they intend to turn this situation around.”