Dealing with the NHS staff recruitment and retention crisis

Abstract

‘Crisis’, some may argue, is a frequently overused term. For the NHS, however, the recent numbers seem to confirm what many fear. Here the author discusses the issues and some solutions.

Is it time to properly examine NHS reform?

“…6 In the January/February 2023 issue of Trends in Urology and Men's Health, Roger Kirby, writing about the future of the NHS, warned: 'Much more needs to be done to boost morale and reduce burnout of all grades of health and social care staff to stem the haemorrhage of talent…otherwise the organisation may struggle to survive in its present form' [author's italics]. 7 Few experts would disagree with this final judgement. But what is to be done?…”

Dealing with the NHS staff recruitment and retention crisis: how are we doing?

“…Two years ago, just before the COVID‐19 pandemic struck, I wrote a piece for Trends in Urology and Men's Health warning of the developing NHS staff recruitment and retention crisis 1 . Unfortunately, as a result of the pandemic, the situation has deteriorated – from serious then to dire now.…”

“…T wo years ago, just before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, I wrote a piece for Trends in Urology and Men's Health warning of the developing NHS staff recruitment and retention crisis. 1 Unfortunately, as a result of the pandemic, the situation has deteriorated -from serious then to dire now. We are short of around 100 000 NHS staff, including more than 10 000 doctors, 47 000 nurses and almost 120 000 social care workers.…”