NHS trusts are struggling to fill hundreds of nursing posts across Barnet, Enfield and Haringey, research has found.

Figures obtained by The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in London show there were more than 10,000 vacant nursing posts across the capital in July.

The total is equivalent to 17 per cent of all London’s registered nursing posts in 2015 – up from 14 per cent in London in 2014 and 11 per cent in 2013, and higher than the national average of ten per cent.

This included 528 vacancies at the Royal Free NHS Trust – which runs Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital and the Royal Free Hospital – equivalent to a vacancy rate of 17 per cent.

Meanwhile, there were 185 nursing vacancies at the Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust - a vacancy rate of 19 per cent.

RCN London said that historic cuts to training places, plus the ongoing pay freeze imposed by the Government, meant many London trusts were unable to find as many permanent staff as they need.

But the Department of Health disputes the figures, which were obtained by Freedom of Information requests, and says there have been 3,400 extra nurses in London since May 2010.

RCN London regional director Bernell Bussue said: “London faces a critical shortage of registered nursing staff. This new research shows 10,000 vacant nursing posts in London, a rate of around 17%. London needs more nurses.

“The problem is partly down to shortsighted workforce planning which saw training posts cut in the past, meaning there aren’t enough home grown nurses coming through the system.”

He added: “Most importantly, the ongoing pay freeze imposed by the Government means that nursing staff increasingly just can’t afford to live and work in London. Pay has run 10% below inflation since 2010.

“The Government urgently needs to give nursing staff a pay rise at a level which helps them settle in the capital for the long term, before staffing shortages start to damage the quality of care which London’s patients receive.”

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "We do not recognise these figures. Official statistics show that Londoners have already benefitted from 3,400 additional nurses since May 2010 and this is down to continued government investment in the frontline.

"We have 50,000 nurses in training and our recent changes to student funding will mean up to 10,000 more training places across the country by 2020.

"Our recent launch of a new nursing associate role will also open up a career into nursing for thousands of people from all backgrounds”.

In a statement, a spokesman for the Royal Free said: “Our current vacancy rates are in line with other London trusts. We have a rolling recruitment programme, alongside specific campaigns, such as the return to practice campaign, and bespoke programmes.

“One of our programmes involves helping our healthcare assistants, who are registered as nurses overseas, become registered to work here. We also recruit nursing staff from other European countries.”

The vacancy rate for nursing staff at the Royal Free is now 16 per cent, they added.

Mark Vaughan, executive director of workforce at the Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust, said: “We are in a very similar situation to other trusts, but we have some really exciting opportunities in our organisation which I would really like local people to apply for. 

“Staff have voted us as being one of the best 100 places to work in the NHS, and we are a trust going places. 

"We are an award winning organisation, a Living Wage Employer, and we offer attractive packages to entice people to work with us rather than having the hassle of travelling into central London.”