Dave Houliston is chief medical laboratory scientist at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

He has worked in NHS laboratories for almost 30 years. He has seen big changes in that time, not least in terms of staff morale.

"Morale is entirely different now," he says. "People are not prepared to do extra work. Some people are but others just do what is required."

we have had occasions when we have had no applicants for jobs

In recent weeks, he has lost three members of staff. One retired early, one moved to another part of the country and another left for a better job and better pay after they had been trained at Bournemouth.

Mr Houliston is not sure whether he will be able to fill the vacant posts. Starting salaries for trainee technicians are just over �11,000.

Filling posts

"In the past, we have had occasions when we have had no applicants for jobs. Sometimes we get two or three."

Bournemouth is by no means the worst affected area. There are serious problems recruiting staff in London and the South East where the high cost of living deters many from taking up laboratory posts.

"We are unable to pay staff extra to cover their cost of living expenses. It is difficult.

"We need a fairer pay bargaining system. We need to make people feel appreciated and the main way of doing that is by increasing pay."

People my age will consider leaving and taking early retirement

The government is currently in negotiations with unions to overhaul the way many NHS staff, including laboratory technicians, are paid.

Pay talks

The so-called Agenda for Change talks are due to be completed shortly.

Mr Houliston is hoping these negotiations will bring improvements for him and his colleagues.

"We need fairer recompense. If there isn't then people my age will consider leaving and taking early retirement.

"I am 55 and there a lot of people in a similar position to me who are considering taking early retirement."

Mr Houliston is confident that if low pay levels are addressed then recruitment problems will be a thing of the past.

"It is an interesting job," he says. "But if the Agenda for Change talks do not bring improvements then it is going to be more difficult for everybody."