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The causes of nursing shortages in care homes in the UK are multifaceted. They reflect the changes in population demographics and the employment patterns. Over the years, there has been a concern over the effects of these shortages and the government has had a difficult time trying to address the situation. The general health care system and nursing work have experienced several changes that pose challenges in both the recruitment process and retention of the already existing workers. It therefore makes people to ask, what can cause nursing shortages in care homes? Here are some of the major causes. An upsurge in demand due to population aging The increase in demand for nursing services in the UK is perhaps the major reason why there is a shortage of workers. If you look at the statistics, you will realize that over the recent years, the population has been growing by about 18 percent. This means that the elderly are also growing in number. It also is the reason why many new care homes are set up every year. With such a trend, you can only expect that nurses will be needed more than ever and if they are not in plenty, then a shortage is inevitable. To solve this, the best option is train more people and encourage the young population to take up careers in nursing. Other career options The broad changes in social and employment patterns that the UK has experienced in recent years are also among the reason why there is a shortage in nursing care homes. With other careers that offer better pay and working conditions, there are nurses who opt to change their profession. This is also the reason many young people would rather take up other careers than to be nurses. It is a worrying trend that can only be addressed if the whole situation is changed. It is important particularly for the government as well as the employers to ensure that there are good working conditions that will make people want to be in this profession. Recently, the government proposed an increase in the minimum living wage bill. The costs pressure In the 1990s, the growth of managed care brought about cost pressure. Many care homes across the UK are up to today struggling to balance their costs with more than a half of them going to their staffs. There have been many conflicts between the employers and the nurses making them opt for other options. It is one of the reasons why it is hard to find a care home that has enough nurses. Some of them even have to alternate between different homes and hospitals because they want to earn more. This however can be solved through adequate funding to the sector. In a nutshell, the nursing shortages in care home bath are a result of a combination of many factors. This shortage can only be eliminated if all the stake holders in the sector come together and find an all-inclusive and long lasting solution.
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