A leading NHS campaigner in Essex has called on the government to pay nurses more as a local hospital trust says they have thousands of vacancies.

Leah Sparks, a 37-year-old nurse based in Thurrock and chair of the Royal College of Nursing’s Essex branch, said she was not surprised by recent figures which show there were 3,792 nursing vacancies within the NHS in the East of England.

While pointing to a few reasons for this shortfall, including the increased workloads, unsafe working conditions and burnout caused by the pandemic she says the lack of pay was the biggest issue as to why the NHS was struggling to hire staff.

She said: “The role of a nurse has changed dramatically over recent years. I prescribe medication, that used to be a doctor’s job at one point. The last thing I want to do then is come home and worry about the next bill that comes in and if I can afford to pay it.

Echo: Leah's comments came as Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust reported almost 2,000 vacanciesLeah's comments came as Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust reported almost 2,000 vacancies

“It’s about recognising our worth, recognising what we have to offer and recognising that inflation has gone up. We only got a 3% pay award last year so we don’t even have a salary that matches the cost of living.

She added: “It’s no wonder nurses are leaving in droves; we don’t feel valued at all. Ultimately our patients are going to be put at risk. You’re going to have nurses that are exhausted and prone to making more mistakes.”

Her comments come as recent figures released by Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which has over 15,000 employees, show that despite recruiting over 400 nurses from overseas during the past year hospitals in South Essex still have nearly 2,000 vacancies.

In a statement a spokesman for the trust said that to cover the shortfall agency workers and even bank staff were being used to ensure safety.

He added; “Over the last year the Trust has employed almost 3,000 new starters and we are continuing to follow a recruitment plan to increase our workforce.

“This has included 408 International nurses recruited during 2021-2022, and the plan for 2022 – 2023 is to recruit 36 international nurses a month, alongside ongoing UK recruitment campaigns and newly qualified nurses who join the Trust.”