Exodus of senior nurses from NHS leads to warning of skills gap

Over 1,000 matrons and 3,400 other senior nurses have been lost by the NHS in England in the last four years, thought to be brought about by a combination of cuts to staffing and an ageing workforce.

These new figures have led to warnings that there may be a lack of “vital experience and knowledge” in hospitals needed to cope with the current high levels of demand.

Nurses have also warned that ever increasing job stress combined with an ongoing pay freeze is forcing them to leave the profession, as well as discouraging experienced professionals from returning.

The recruitment drive for full time nursing staff has been expensive and as a result, some hospitals have either cut posts or not replaced senior nurses to attempt to help balance their books.

Dr Peter Carter, general secretary and chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said “Cutting senior nursing posts means that the NHS has lost vital experience and knowledge at a time when it needs it more than ever. While recent investment means that there are new, lower-grade nurses coming into the profession, there’s a major risk of creating a skills gap that won’t be filled overnight.”

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), Medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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