Calls to tackle attrition and recruitment in nursing

Last year, the Nuffield Trust warned that the domestic training pipeline for clinical careers is ‘unfit for purpose’ – with too many staff dropping out of training and leaving their NHS careers. Now, the Royal College of Nursing is highlighting issues with recruitment too.

Growing the domestic supply of healthcare staff is critical to ensuring a long-term, sustainable solution to meet the rising demand for healthcare, as well as replacing staff who leave. The good news is that the number of nurses and midwives working in the NHS is increasing, according to new figures. NHS England data for November shows that the number of nurses and midwives working in the NHS in England is now at 372,411 – in fact, there were over 20,000 more in the NHS workforce going into this winter compared with last year. The number of midwives has also grown by more than 1,100 from the previous year to 23,396, according to NHS England.

Professor Mark Radford, Director of Education and Training, NHS England, said: “We are pleased to see the growth within the nursing, midwifery and support staff workforce and will build on this as we work to achieve the Long Term Workforce Plan commitment to train and retain more nurses and midwives.

“Showing people what a nursing or midwifery career has to offer will be vital to the success of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan and the NHS is growing a number of entry routes, such as the nurse degree apprenticeship, to make sure a career in nursing is a possibility for as many people as possible.”

Log in or register FREE to read the rest

This story is Premium Content and is only available to registered users. Please log in at the top of the page to view the full text. If you don't already have an account, please register with us completely free of charge.

Latest Issues

CSC Autumn Study Day 2024

Crowne Plaza Birmingham NEC
14th October 2024

BAUN 2024 Annual Conference

ACC, Liverpool
3rd - 5th November 2024

The AfPP Roadshow - Belfast

ICC Belfast
9th November 2024

IDSc Annual Conference 2024

Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel
26th - 27th November 2024

IV Forum 2024

Birmingham Conference & Events Centre (BCEC)
Wednesday 4th December 2024

The AfPP Roadshow - Leeds

TBA, Leeds
7th December 2024