Commenting on new proposals to help the NHS retain staff, announced today by the regulator NHS Improvement, Candace Imison, Director of Policy at the Nuffield Trust said:
Until the Government act to address the prolonged squeeze on the pay packets of nurses and other NHS staff, the health service is likely to face an uphill battle where staff retention is concerned.
Candace Imison, Director of Policy, Nuffield Trust
"The NHS is shedding staff at an alarming rate, and that only looks set to worsen as uncertainty over Brexit continues. Because of this it is absolutely right to focus on how the health service can hang onto its most valuable asset - the people that make up the workforce.
"The package of measures announced today by NHSI is a very good start. Focusing not only on how trusts can retain staff, but also helping them understand better why staff are leaving is sensible. But the continued cap on staff pay threatens to undermine this work.
"Until the Government act to address the prolonged squeeze on the pay packets of nurses and other NHS staff, the health service is likely to face an uphill battle where staff retention is concerned."