NHS staff 'ready to quit' as almost two in three consider looking for new jobs
by Evening Chronicle · ChronicleLiveNearly two-thirds of NHS staff are contemplating a career change, according to new findings by the GMB union. A survey polling close to 2,000 health service workers, among them ambulance crews, indicated that a majority would reconsider their choice to work for the NHS if they were at the start of their careers now.
The union's research was carried out in preparation for its forthcoming presentation to the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB), which examines submissions from various groups to inform decisions on NHS pay increases.
GMB national secretary Rachel Harrison commented: "NHS workers have had a desperate 14 years. Real-terms pay cuts, under-staffing, a global pandemic – it’s no surprise they’re ready to throw the towel in or wish they’d never joined.
"This year's above-inflation pay rise was the first step in a long journey to making our health service a decent place to work once again."
She added: "GMB's submission to the PRB will make the case on behalf of health workers as to what needs to happen next."
When questioned about whether they had thought about leaving their job over the past six months, two out of three respondents affirmed this was the case.
Addressing the issue, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson acknowledged: "NHS staff have been overworked for years, leaving them burnt out and demoralised, which is why we accepted the recommendations of the independent pay review bodies to award them with an above-inflation pay rise and ended the resident doctor strikes.
"Together with NHS staff and the general public, we will recover and rebuild our health service through the 10-Year Health Plan, making sure the NHS is a great place to work and that patients are getting the right care, where and when they need it."
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