NMC responds to Health Foundation report on workforce

Responding to the Health Foundation’s report highlighting risk to pandemic recovery due to nursing shortages, Andrea Sutcliffe CBE, Chief Executive and Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council, said:

“Despite the tremendous pressures experienced during the coronavirus pandemic, nursing and midwifery professionals across the four nations have shown they are the beating heart of our health and care system.

“However, this report illustrates concerns we’ve highlighted previously: If we don’t prioritise recruiting more of the skilled staff we need, and retain and support those we have, then we will continue to lose dedicated professionals due to work-related stress and its effect on their mental health – as highlighted in our leavers’ survey.  

“While our latest data shows our permanent register is at an all-time high and thousands more have joined our Covid-19 temporary register - we need a long-term, sustainable workforce plan that addresses the gaps and support required by all nursing and midwifery professionals, particularly those working in the community or in mental health and learning disability services.”

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