Workforce pressures remain despite nursing figures

Approximately 8,000 more nurses, midwives and nursing associates are now registered to work in the UK compared to 12 months ago.

The latest figures published by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) reveal a 126 per cent leap in the number of nurses and midwives from outside of the EU registering to work in the UK for the first time, as well as an overall increase of more than 5,000 UK trained nurses, midwives and, in England only, nursing associates, driven by an increase of 1,567 joining the register for the first time and a decrease in those leaving.

However, the number of nursing and midwifery professionals from the EU continues to decline. Following a peak of 38,024 in March 2017, the number has reduced to 33,035 this year – a 13 per cent drop (nearly 5,000) over two years.

The NMC asked over 11,000 people who left its register over a six month period in 2018 the reasons why they left. Findings from that survey show that the top reason for leaving was retirement, however almost a third (1,050) of the 3,504 respondents cited too much pressure leading to stress and/or poor mental health as a top reason for leaving.

A further 51 per cent of those nurses and midwives from within the EU who left the register and responded to the survey, stated Brexit as a reason for encouraging them to consider working outside the UK.

In response to the figures, the Royal College of Nursing has claimed that every country of the UK needs a strategy to recruit, train and retain a new generation of nurses, and have accountability set in law for the adequate supply of nursing staff, because there aren’t enough registered nurses in the UK to meet patient demand.

Andrea Sutcliffe, chief executive at the NMC, said: “Nurses, midwives and nursing associates make an enormous contribution to the health and wellbeing of millions of people each year so I’m delighted to see such an increase in those joining our register. It’s encouraging to know this is being driven by both UK trained and overseas professionals. It’s clear the changes we’ve introduced – to make it more straightforward for those people with the right skills and knowledge to come and work here from abroad – are making a real difference.

“However, we only have to look at the well documented concerns around high vacancy and turnover rates that exist right across health and social care to know there’s a long way to go before we have all the people we need to ensure the best and safest care for everyone. And while there has been a drop in the number of people leaving the register, our survey fires yet another warning shot – that the pressures nurses and midwives face are real and must be taken seriously if we are to properly attract, support and retain the workforce that we need now, and for the future.”

Donna Kinnair, chief executive of the RCN, said: “Politicians should be alarmed by the finding that almost one in three registrants quit nursing because of intolerable pressure. They have abused the goodwill of nurses for too long and that dam is starting to burst. The modest increases in the number of registrants are not of the scale or kind needed to meet demand and the workforce crisis isn’t abating. It is inappropriate to rely on a steady stream of nurses from beyond the EU, which seems to be the plan in England in particular.”