Poll findings add to fears of 'nursing exodus' post-pandemic | nursing times

Almost a third of nurses and midwives say they are more likely to leave their jobs now than they were a year ago after working through Covid-19 pressures, according to a snapshot survey. The

research, by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), also found that 61% of nurses and midwives feel the pandemic has had a detrimental effect on their training and development.

> “This should ring alarm bells for a government that came into > power on bold pledges to boost the NHS workforce” >  > IPPR report In light of the findings, the IPPR is calling

for a “new deal” for NHS staff following Covid-19, which includes a pay increase of at least 5%, flexible working by default, and national recognition of skills. The recommendations are

laid out in a new report published today by the institute, which is titled Recover, Reward, Renew. The report is based on a poll supported by YouGov and carried out between 9-15 February

2021 of around 1,000 health professionals. The poll found that 29% of nurses and midwives who answered the survey said they were more likely to leave the sector than a year ago. When scaled

up, the IPPR said this was equivalent to 100,000 nurses and health visitors, and 8,000 midwives considering their future in the health service. While recognising that “in reality” many of

these workers would not leave, the IPPR warned that a “highly dissatisfied and demoralised workforce is very bad news for patients and productivity”. It added: “Furthermore, even if only a

fraction leave, it would significantly compound existing understaffing problems – particularly as those most likely to leave, nurses, are the occupational group with the highest number of

shortages.” “This should ring alarm bells for a government that came into power on bold pledges to boost the NHS workforce,” noted the report. The survey also found that just under half of

respondents reported working an understaffed shift once a week or more since the pandemic began. > “This report should act as a wake-up call to government and force > them to stop 

ignoring the warning signs of an exodus of nursing > staff” >  > Donna Kinnair Similarly, 49% said that, at least once week, they felt unable to provide the level of patient care

they would like to due to constraints beyond their control. The report warned that working under such conditions created “moral injury and mental health problems”. According to the survey,

two-thirds (66%) of respondents reported being mentally exhausted because of work. Shockingly, 5% of health workers said they had thoughts of self-harm and/or suicide at least once a week –

a figure that increased to 12% when concentrated on respondents aged 18 to 34. The findings come on the same day as the results of a _Nursing Times _survey, in which two-thirds of nurses

said their mental health had deteriorated since the initial peak of the pandemic last spring. RELATED ARTICLES  Meanwhile, the IPPR poll also highlighted issues of racial inequality in the

workforce – with staff from minority ethnic backgrounds twice as likely (31%) to report experiencing discrimination from their manager or colleagues, compared to staff from white ethnic

backgrounds (16%). When asked to rate what policy priorities were most important to them, a pay rise came out on top, with this answer being given by 70% of respondents. The report warned

that the 1% pay proposal put forward by the government for NHS nurses was “inadequate in both size and structure”. RELATED ARTICLES  Instead, health workers told the IPPR that a 5% pay rise

was the minimum that they would find acceptable. Overall, the IPPR called for a new long-term workforce strategy that addressed fatigue and mental health problems among staff, properly

rewarded them, and created positive working conditions. RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDED: * Strengthened mental health services for staff implemented during the pandemic to be maintained and further

scaled up post-pandemic * Unused annual leave to be protected for five years and be made transferrable across trusts * Development of an NHS-wide “annual leave inflexibility compensation

policy” that offered staff who are refused leave on their requested dates additional time off in lieu or a pay bonus * Making flexible working available to all * Award of an average 5% pay

rise package that is “tilted in favour of low paid staff” * Expanded workplace benefits, including meal vouchers, travel costs reimbursement and staff room upgrades * Stronger action on

stamping out institutional racism In addition, the report called for the introduction of a national “portable health and care competency system” – similar to the skills passports already

used in some areas such as London. It noted that lack of recognition of skills across different trusts, practices and geographical areas “restricted mobility” of staff and exacerbated

regional shortages. Such a system would also help staff to have any skills developed during the coronavirus pandemic recognised, noted the report. “This is particularly important as 61% of

nurses/midwives and 55% of doctors feel the pandemic has had a detrimental impact on their training and professional development,” it added. Donnair Kinnair Dame Donna Kinnair, chief

executive and general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said: “This report should act as a wake-up call to government and force them to stop ignoring the warning signs of an exodus

of nursing staff from the NHS. “The reality of a failure to properly invest in the nursing workforce is clear. Not only on the ability to provide patient care but also on the welfare of

those who have been pushed to the limit.” She called on ministers to rethink their 1% pay offer, ensure mental health support services were available to all nursing staff, and provide funds

for “supported time out” to allow staff to recover. Danny Mortimer, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, added: “This report rightly reinforces that the time is now to give the NHS all

it needs to help staff get back on track. “That includes urgent long-term investment from the chancellor to address long-standing vacancies across all our key professions.” Danny Mortimer A

Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said it recognised the pressure the pandemic had placed on the workforce and had invested £15m into dedicated staff mental health support.

They added: “There are record numbers of doctors and nurses working in our NHS with nearly 10,900 more nurses and almost 6,600 more doctors than last year. “We are committed to supporting

every one by further boosting recruitment, investing in staff, and backing the NHS with an extra £29bn in Covid funding over the next year.” On the matter of pay, the government said it

would carefully consider the recommendations from the NHS Pay Review Body when they arrived.