Low morale and poor pay behind staff retention problems, survey suggests

Low morale and poor pay are key reasons why the NHS struggles to retain staff, according to a new survey.

In a poll of 2,000 NHS workers, 92% thought low morale caused problems with staff retention and 72% thought poor pay and rewards had a similar effect.

Difficulties

The survey, for Wilmington Healthcare UK, showed that NHS workers found structural reorganisation of the NHS has also affected how staff feel about their work. In addition, almost half thought Brexit would make it more difficult to recruit and retain staff.

A total of 85% of staff said access to training and development was a key requirement for the future NHS workforce and over three-quarters of respondents rated flexible working and career progression highly.

'Plummeting morale'

The King’s Fund think-tank has said it sees the creation of new sustainability and transformation plans across 44 areas in England as a workaround of former health secretary Andrew Lansley’s reforms pushed through in 2012.

Unison head of health Christina McAnea said: ‘Constant reorganisation of the NHS combined with years of low pay have seen staff morale plummet.

‘Staff are leaving the NHS in droves, and the uncertainty over EU workers staying is only making matters worse. Ministers should stop taking health employees for granted and give them a decent wage rise.’

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