NATS management are looking at other ways of bringing in more staff quickly. One is discussed in the thread in PPrune reference Ex-Mil ATCO's. Another I'm aware of is that there's a 'glut' of ATCO's in Eire and Scandanavia. There are discussions under way with the IAA (AAI?, Irish CAA!) to bring some of their guys over.
There's also the possibility of bringing in experienced aerodrome ATCO's who've got a good chance of validating at Area and sending the spotty youths off of CATC to the aerodromes. Also bringing Manch ATCO's down to NERC.
NATS management have suddenly woken up to the realisation that they're in a BIG hole!
Although the 'official' figures are 'only' 41 ATCO's below, when you factor in the very high sickness levels on some watches etc. etc. the figure is significantly higher. Hence poor old 'D' watch getting hit on for so many DD&C's, 'cause some other watches simply cannot man up for it.
Yes Swanwick can handle more traffic than LATCC ever did, but only when the correct staff with the correct validations have got their bums in the seats.