Fewer nurses are entering the profession

The comments came as the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) launched a staffing study calling for co-ordinated action from the UK's four health departments.

According to the report, the number of qualified nurses in Scotland has grown by less than 5% since 1999, compared with an increase of 11% in England, 8% in Wales and 6% in Northern Ireland.

The RCN's key recommendation is for the primary focus of recruitment activity to be concentrated within the UK, as opposed to overseas.

I am angry and frustrated with the progress being made on the nursing workforce in Scotland James Kennedy RCN Scotland

The union believes this will ensure that the UK's nursing workforce continues to grow over the next decade.

The report, More Nurses Working Differently?, found that despite the increase in nursing staff, nursing shortages have not yet been solved.

James Kennedy, RCN Scotland secretary, added: "I am angry and frustrated with the progress being made on the nursing workforce in Scotland compared with other parts of the UK.

"The number of whole time equivalent qualified nurses in Scotland has grown by less than 5% since 1999, compared with over 11% in England."

Nursing target

"Financial pressures are also impacting on frontline staff, with many areas freezing their plans to recruit more nurses.

"Given this situation I find it impossible to see how the executive can achieve its target of 12,000 more nurses by 2007.

"It is little wonder that most nurses in Scotland today feel that their workload is too heavy."

The report, commissioned by the RCN, provides an overview of the UK nursing labour market, as well as the main changes influencing supply and demand of nurses and trends in the nursing workforce.

Nurse shortages are causing concern

Tracy McFall, RCN Scotland chairwoman, said that while the number of students starting courses in Scotland was increasing, the number completing their studies and entering the profession had fallen by almost 30% in the last decade.

"We believe we are losing more students than any other part of the UK, our workforce is growing more slowly and one in 10 nurses in Scotland will reach retirement age in the next five years," she said.

Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm said he was confident that the 12,000 target would be met by 2007.

"The number of extra qualified nurses in the workforce has increased far more dramatically over the last two years than previously but I accept we still have much more to do," he said.

Mr Chisholm added: "We are working very hard to improve things for nurses in Scotland in relation to the hours and shift patterns they can work.