To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the turnover rate of NHS medical staff; and what steps they are taking in response.
Answered on
10 November 2020
NHS Digital publishes Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) workforce statistics, including information on staff turnover. These include staff working in hospital trusts and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), but not staff working in primary care, local authorities or other providers.
The following table shows the annual numbers and rates of leavers for doctors, including staff who left the National Health Service. Leavers data includes people leaving active service temporarily, this would include those going on maternity leave or career break.
HCHS Doctors (excluding junior doctors) | |||
Leavers | Leaver Rate | Stability Index | |
June 2010 to June 2011 | 4,415 | 8.3% | 91.6% |
June 2011 to June 2012 | 4,630 | 8.6% | 91.4% |
June 2012 to June 2013 | 4,720 | 8.7% | 91.3% |
June 2013 to June 2014 | 4,189 | 7.6% | 92.3% |
June 2014 to June 2015 | 4,129 | 7.3% | 92.6% |
June 2015 to June 2016 | 4,313 | 7.4% | 92.5% |
June 2016 to June 2017 | 4,242 | 7.1% | 92.8% |
June 2017 to June 2018 | 4,431 | 7.2% | 92.7% |
June 2018 to June 2019 | 4,263 | 6.7% | 93.2% |
June 2019 to June 2020 | 4,272 | 6.5% | 93.4% |
Source: NHS Digital Workforce Statistics – Annual HCHS doctor leavers from the staff group, in NHS trusts and CCGs in England, June to June each year, 2010 to 2020, headcount and rates.
The retention rate has increased from 91.6% to 93.4% between June 2010 and June 2020.
We are nonetheless taking action to improve the experience of doctors and further increase retention. For example, the Enhancing Junior Doctors’ Working Lives programme, led by Health Education England, is delivering a range of initiatives to improve the quality of life of doctors in training.