‘Wake-up call’ as one in nine nurses quit NHS

RECORD numbers of nurses are quitting the NHS in England, with one in nine leaving in the past year.

More than 40,000 have left the health service in 12 months, according to the Nuffield Trust. Many of these were highly skilled and knowledgeable nurses with years more work life left.

Evidence suggests that stress and the need for a better work-life balance is behind the figures, researchers said.

Unless something is done to address the problem, the Government will struggle to hit its target to recruit an extra 50,000 nurses in England during this Parliament, they added.

The Department of Health said it is half way towards its recruitment target. But data shows there were just 4,000 more joining than leaving.

Dr Billy Palmer, from the Nuffield Trust, suggested there are ‘deep-rooted issues with working practices and employment conditions’.

Dr Palmer said: ‘There has been a staggering jump in the number of NHS nurses leaving active service. It should be an urgent wake-up call that one in nine left their posts in the year.’