North Wales health board faces biggest nurse shortfall
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has revealed that there are at least 1,481 registered nurse vacancies across NHS Wales, with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board holding the largest number.
The figures come from the RCN’s annual Nursing in Numbers 2025 report, which highlights growing pressure on the workforce and warns that vacancies are driving up costs and straining patient care.
Data obtained by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) through Freedom of Information requests shows that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has the highest number of registered nurse vacancies in Wales, with 451.5 posts currently unfilled.
This figure accounts for almost a third of the 1,480.8 vacancies recorded across NHS Wales.
Despite the widespread shortage, the report says some health boards have introduced vacancy freezes, and even newly qualified nurses are finding it difficult to secure full-time posts.
The shortage has forced NHS Wales to rely heavily on temporary agency staff.
In 2024–25, health boards spent £88.7 million on agency nurses, an amount the RCN says could fund 2,815 full-time newly registered nurses.
The RCN report also draws attention to ongoing discrimination faced by nurses from minority backgrounds, urging further action under the Welsh Government’s Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan.
Findings from the RCN’s 2025 Employment Survey show that 88.4% of nursing staff in Wales work additional hours at least once a week.
More than half said they work three or more extra hours, and nearly four in ten said the hours are unpaid.
The survey also found that 38% of nursing staff in Wales are considering leaving or actively planning to leave their jobs.
The report sets out 13 urgent recommendations to tackle the crisis, including protecting the registered nurse role, improving workforce data, halting hospital bed cuts and ensuring fair pay and progression.
It also calls for more investment in social care staff and additional nursing student places with better support.
RCN Wales Executive Director Helen Whyley said: “These figures are a stark warning that our nursing workforce is still under intolerable strain and still not getting the respect it deserves. With at least 1,481 nurse vacancies, skyrocketing agency fees, and relentless unpaid overtime, this situation is unsustainable.”
“Patients in Wales deserve safe, consistent care. Our brilliant nursing workforce deserves fair pay, safe staffing levels and protection from abuse. The Welsh Government and NHS Wales must take the recommendations we’ve set out in our report and act on them now to keep nursing staff in Wales and restore public confidence in our services.”
“It is unacceptable that all health boards in Wales do not count the number of vacancies of registered nursing posts across all pay bands. Without knowing this information, it is impossible for it to ensure effective workforce planning and for members of the public and stakeholders to effectively scrutinise the health boards.”
The RCN said it remains ready to work with government, health boards and education partners to develop practical solutions that fill vacancies, reduce reliance on agency staff and promote fairness in the workplace.
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