Staff Leaving the NHS Among Lowest in Over a Decade
NHS staff retention schemes have helped cut the number of workers leaving the health service to one of its lowest levels in over a decade, according to new analysis.
1 in 10 (10.1%) hospital and community healthcare workers left the NHS in the 12 months up to September 2024 – nearly 21,300 fewer than in the same period up to September 2022, when 1 in 8 (12.5%) left the health service.
The proportion is the lowest since the pandemic, when the leavers rate fell to 9.2%, and the second-lowest since 2010 when the rate was at 10.0%.
The fall in the number of leavers has been supported by an initial 2-year programme aimed at finding new ways to improve retention in the NHS. There has also been a reduction in sickness and absence rates, and an improvement in productivity.
A new review published today of the NHS’s People Promise staff retention initiative found that the number of leavers fell by an average of 11.8% for organisations involved in the pilot – with those implementing more interventions improving their leaver rates the most.
The programme, which has been led by NHS England since April 2022, supported 23 NHS organisations and has since been expanded to support a further 116 organisations – including more mental health and community trusts, as well as primary care and ambulance services.
Around 4,500 staff members were supported to stay in the health service thanks to the programme. The report found that efficient use of e-rostering, supporting flexible working and flexible retirement, and local listening sessions for staff had the biggest impact on improvements to leaver rates.
Minister for Health, Stephen Kinnock, said: “NHS staff have been overworked for far too long, but it’s great to see initiatives like these keep thousands of them in the workforce.
“We know there’s still a lot to be done to alleviate pressures on staff and to fix the broken NHS.”
“Through our Plan for Change we are turning the NHS around, boosting productivity and giving staff the tools they need to deliver the best possible care for patients.”
