More nurses and midwives leaving than joining, new figures show

The number of nurses and midwives leaving the profession has risen 51 percent in just four years, with those under the age of retirement citing low pay and poor working conditions.

New figures from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) show that for the first time in recent history more midwives and nurses are leaving the register than are joining, with homegrown UK nurses leaving in the largest numbers.

Between 2016 and 2017, 20 percent more people left the register than joined it, and among those first registered in the UK, the figure was 45 percent.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) called on the Government to scrap the pay cap as a matter of urgency to stem the numbers going.

The data shows that following yearly rises since 2013 in the numbers on the register, there was a drop in 2016/17 of 1,783 to 690,773.

During April and May this year, there has been a more dramatic fall, with a further 3,264 workers leaving the profession.

The overall number of leavers - which includes UK, overseas and EU registrants – has increased from 23,087 in 2012/13 to 34,941 in 2016/17.