Responding to the University of Bath report 'Should I stay or should I go? Monitoring influences on NHS staff retention in the post-COVID-19 World', Patricia Marquis, Executive Director of RCN England said:
“This report tells the story of an NHS workforce at the end of its tether. Devastating nursing shortages are leaving staff burnt out and demoralised, unable to provide the level of care they want to. When nurses are the least likely of all NHS staff to recommend a career in the health service, ministers should sit up and listen.
“Nursing staff want to be fairly rewarded for their work but have instead endured over a decade of real-terms pay cuts. It should be little wonder pay is a primary motivator for those seeking work outside of the NHS.
“An NHS with tens of thousands of empty nursing posts can ill-afford to watch thousands more staff leave. Care is already being compromised and the prime minister needs to understand that there is no route to cutting waiting lists or delivering on the NHS long term plan that doesn’t go through nursing.
“Nursing is an incredible career but more must be done to attract people into the profession and keep those already in it. Nothing less than a significant above inflation pay award will help deliver pay justice for nursing staff, stabilise the workforce and safeguard patient care.”
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Notes to Editors
