DOZENS of new clinical workers joined University Hospitals Of Morecambe Bay Trust this year, figures reveal.

NHS Digital figures show that 3,126 professionally qualified clinical staff were working at University Hospitals Of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust in January – 38 more than in January 2020.

There are now a total of 1,671 nurses and health visitors working for the trust– two fewer than last year.

There are also 597 doctors – six more.

The total number of clinical workers increased from 3,088 in January 2020, to 3,126 at the start of this year.

Other clinical workers include midwives, ambulance and technical staff.

The numbers refer to full time posts, rather than individual staff members.

Across England, the number of professionally qualified clinical staff make up more than half of the hospital and community health service workforce.

In January, the number of such workers increased by 4.2 per cent, including an extra 9,800 nurses and health visitors and 6,400 doctors.

However, separate figures show that there were 36,200 vacant nursing jobs and 7,000 vacant medical posts in the three months to December.

Dr Helena McKeown, chief officer of the British Medical Association, said: "Despite there being some minor increases in staff numbers, this does not go anywhere near far enough to fill the known, as well as unknown, vacancy gaps that currently exist within the NHS. We are in the midst of a serious staffing crisis."