Number of midwives and nurses leaving NHS rises
THE number of Welsh nurses and midwives leaving the NHS is on the rise, new figures have revealed.
A total of 1,401 professionals living in Wales left the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register in 2021-22 – 13% more than in the previous 12 months and the highest number since 2018-19.
While retirement was the biggest overall reason, more than a third (35%) of staff in Wales said the Covid19 pandemic had influenced their decision to leave, and 18% cited “too much pressure” as one of their top three reasons for leaving.
Those in the 41-55 age bracket saw the biggest fall in registrations in Wales, down from 15,443 in 2020-21 to 15,160 in 2021-22.
Professor Geraldine Walters, NMC executive director of professional practice and lead director for Wales, said: “It’s important to note the increase in people leaving the register compared to last year, which is something we’re seeing in all four countries of the UK.
“Many people said the pandemic and pressure were factors, which need to be considered in workforce retention plans.”
While the number of people leaving the register increased, so did the number of people joining for the first time. In total there were 1,600 joiners in Wales – a 10% rise from the 1,457 recorded in Wales the previous year.
Despite the higher than average number of leavers, the total number of nursing and midwifery professionals with registered addresses in Wales grew from 37,446 to 38,268 between April 2021 and March 2022.
Commenting on the data, Helen Whyley, director of the Royal College of Nursing in Wales, said: “In 2021– 22, 1,401 people left the register in Wales.
“The 12.7% increase on the previous year is indicative of the overwhelming pressures on nurses, pushing many to leave the profession, and whilst we welcome the slight increase in those joining the register, this is not enough to cover the shortages of nursing staff.
“We need more nurses in Wales to ensure safe patient care. The Welsh Government must invest in student nurses, along with fair pay for nursing and continuing professional development, to ensure we retain the nurses we have, and to encourage more to choose nursing as a profession.
“In addition, the number of people on the register in Wales who trained outside the EU/EEA has risen by 14.3% to 2,794. We must ensure that we show our internationally trained nurses that they are valued and supported as part of our nursing workforce.”
Andrea Sutcliffe, NMC chief executive and registrar, said: “A focus on retention as well as attracting new recruits needs to be part of a sustainable workforce plan that supports the growth in the nursing and midwifery workforce we need to meet rising demands for health and care services.”