The number of Welsh nurses and midwives leaving the NHS is on the rise, new figures have revealed. A total of 1,401 professionals living in Wales left the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register in 2021-2022 - 13% more than in the previous 12 months and the highest number since 2018-19.
While retirement was the biggest overall reason, more than a third (35%) of staff in Wales said the Covid pandemic had influenced their decision to leave, and 18% cited "too much pressure" as one of their top three reasons for leaving. Those in the 41-55 age bracket saw the biggest fall in registrations in Wales, down from 15,443 in 2020-21 to 15,160 in 2021-22.
Professor Geraldine Walters, NMC executive director of professional practice and lead director for Wales, said: "It's important to note the increase in people leaving the register compared to last year, which is something we're seeing in all four countries of the UK. Many people said the pandemic and pressure were factors, which need to be considered in workforce retention plans." You can get more health news and other story updates by subscribing to our newsletters here.
