Responding to the latest Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registration data, which showed falling numbers of new joiners and dramatically increasing early leavers, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger said:
"Today’s figures are bad news for patients. Nurse recruitment is slowing, the numbers of new starters is falling and we are witnessing a devastating increase in people leaving within five years of joining. At a time of widespread vacancies, these trends are incredibly worrying for our NHS and the people that rely on its care.
"Across health and care services, international recruitment was utilised to plug rota gaps, but we are now watching as thousands of overseas staff choose to go elsewhere. This comes as the number of student nurses dropped considerably again this year, showing worse years seem be ahead. As demand for care soars, ministers across the UK need to recognise this as a perfect storm for patient safety and take action to improve recruitment and retention.
“Working for low pay, in understaffed, under-resourced services takes its toll with burnout pushing highly-trained nursing staff out the door. Across England, we desperately need a loan forgiveness scheme to boost domestic recruitment into the profession. The government's NHS reforms stand no chance of being delivered without addressing these fundamentals."
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Notes to editors
Data from the NMC register April-September 2024 found:
The numbers of new joiners, including UK and international, to the NMC register in the six months to September 2024 decreased by 9.2% on the same period last year - 30,085 new joiners in September 23, compared to 27,313 in September 24
The numbers of professionals leaving the register within five years of joining has increased dramatically, up 48.6% n the six months to September, compared to the same period last year. Early leavers in September 2020 stood at 811, but have now risen to 1,799.
The numbers of professionals joining the register from overseas has fallen 16.6% (2,501) in the six months to September, compared to the same period last year. There has been a 33% (1,934) increase in the number of international professionals leaving the register during the same period.
Latest regional data from the university admissions service UCAS shows the number of people accepted onto nursing courses fell by up to 40% in parts of England between 2020 and 2023, as the College renews its call for a new plan and better financial incentives. In 2024, acceptances in England are 5000 down in 2024, compared to 2021
A loan forgiveness model would see tuition fee loans waived for those who commit to working in the NHS in England and wider public services upon graduation.
