Figures show huge numbers of midwives leaving register
The number of nurses and midwives leaving the profession has risen 51% in just four years, with those under the age of retirement citing low pay and poor working conditions.
New figures from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) show that for the first time in recent history more midwives and nurses are leaving the register than are joining, with homegrown UK nurses leaving in the largest numbers.
Between 2016 and 2017, 20% more people left the register than joined it, and among those first registered in the UK, the figure was 45%.
TheRoyalCollegeofNursing (RCN) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) called on the Government to scrap the pay cap as a matter of urgency to stem the numbers going.
The data shows that, following yearly rises since 2013 in the numbers on the register, there was a drop in 2016/17 of 1,783 to 690,773.
During April and May this year, there has been a more dramatic fall, with 3,264 workers leaving the profession. The overall number of leavers – which includes UK, overseas and EU registrants – increased from 23,087 in 2012/13 to 34,941 in 2016/17.
Saffron Cordery, director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, said: “These figures provide further evidence of the severe workforce problems NHS trusts face.”
A Department of Health spokeswoman said: “We are making sure we have the nurses we need to continue delivering world-class patient care – that’s why there are almost 13,100 more on our wards since May 2010 and 52,000 in training.”