How we're putting the brakes on staff shortages in healthcare

The healthcare sector has been short-staffed for years. Although there has been a large influx into the sector recently, many people are leaving too. So the danger is far from over, and we can take that quite literally. After all, this is work on which people's lives depend. But where exactly does the problem lie, what exactly are the consequences, and which smart solutions can we use to tackle it?

Causes of staff shortages in healthcare

The staff shortage in healthcare has a number of major causes. The first is an ageing population: people are living longer and longer, which means more work and therefore a greater need for staff. The pressure on the staff who stay also rises when colleagues drop out, and that pressure can in turn be a reason to stop working in healthcare. A vicious circle, then. Besides the ageing population and the pressure that comes with it, the relatively poor terms of employment are a reason for many to leave as well. Low salaries, irregular working hours and long days wear healthcare workers down.

The drastic consequences

The consequences are clearly felt in the healthcare sector. Staff turnover is high, and those who are unhappy but don't want to leave healthcare altogether start working in the sector as freelancers. And who can blame them: it means less work, often at more regular hours and for a higher hourly rate. Besides costing the healthcare sector a lot more money and making freelancers harder to schedule, they also lack the commitment that keeps permanent employees attached to an organisation. The result: freelancers hop over to another (temporary) employer much more quickly.

Solutions: how to attract and retain staff

This problem can be tackled in several ways. First of all, it's important to focus on retaining current staff. So: go for better terms of employment, such as higher salaries and (where possible) more pleasant and more predictable shifts. In addition, organisations can focus on attracting new staff. Lower the hard requirements, for example, and clearly showcase the improved terms of employment. It's also smart to approach people directly on the online platform where they are, instead of waiting for them to visit the vacancy page on your website. You can share your vacancies online with exactly the right target group through an RPO campaign; a smart option if you'd rather hand your recruitment over to a group of experts.

Step by step towards more healthcare staff

The staff shortage in healthcare has been going on for a while and won't be solved in a day. But by looking closely at the causes of the problem, big steps can already be taken.

Sources

• Dutchhealthhub
• RTL Nieuws
• NOS