Record number of staff leave Worcestershire NHS posts

NHS Digital figures, which are rounded to the nearest five, show about 645 NHS staff resigned from their roles in 2021-22.

This was up from about 540 in 2019-20 and the highest number since records began a decade earlier.

Across the country, 140,000 staff members resigned last year – up from 99,000 the year before.

Worcestershire Royal is one of three hospitals run by the trust

The figures cover medical and administration staff. A resignation does not necessarily mean the staff member has left the NHS altogether, as the figures also include any promotions and relocations.

Pat Cullen, general secretary and chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, said: "Years of underinvestment – including a decade of real-terms pay cuts – means record numbers of staff are leaving the NHS.

"Staff are leaving, realising they can get similar or better pay in supermarkets and retail without the stress of the job, and poor pay is creating severe staff shortages and making patients unsafe.”

Among the departures across England last year were 30,740 nurses and health visitors who voluntarily left their posts – the highest number on record.

Of them, 145 were based at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust – in line with 2019-20.

Record number of midwives resign

A record 2,260 midwives voluntarily resigned across England in 2021-22 – including around 25 at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust - and the Royal College of Midwifery said falling pay is a primary issue for many who leave the profession.

An RCM spokesperson said: "Midwives have seen over a decade of pay stagnation, and feel undervalued and burnt out.”

Tina Ricketts, director of people and culture at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We know from what our leavers tell us that there are a wide range of reasons that influence their decision to move on – with promotion and relocation making up a large proportion of these. 

 “While our turnover rate is broadly in line with other Trusts, we know that working in the NHS can be demanding, and retaining and developing our staff and developing a culture where staff feel respected, valued, included and well at work lies at the heart of our People and Culture Strategy.

“All colleagues have access to Occupational Health services, along with a wealth of additional health and wellbeing information and support. 

“We recognise there is always more to do, and we have a comprehensive action plan in place which aims to build further on these improvements in the coming months.”