NHS staff leaving for better-paid jobs in retail
NHS Providers, the body that represents trusts, says it's affecting two thirds of Trusts
NHS staff are facing a cost-of-living crisis which is forcing them to leave for better paid jobs in shops and hospitality.
That's according to NHS Providers, the body that represents trusts.
Its survey found two thirds (68%) of Trusts were reporting a "significant or severe impact" from staff, leaving for other sectors where conditions and terms are better.
Anecdotally, senior NHS figures have said they are seeing "huge numbers" of staff in their trusts taking other jobs, or considering second jobs, away from the NHS.
Staff are also struggling to afford to go to work, with 71% of trust managers surveyed saying this was having a significant or severe impact on their trust.
While the cost-of-living crisis is affecting lower paid staff the most, the pressures are being felt across the board, NHS Providers said.
In some Trusts, managers have described how sickness rates rise towards the end of the month as pay packets run out, with people no longer able to afford the journey to work.
Some Trusts have reported paying staff in advance for fuel while others have helped to buy school uniforms for their workers' children.
All those surveyed by NHS Providers (representing 54% of trust leaders) said they were worried about the mental, physical and financial wellbeing of staff as a result of the cost-of-living pressures, while 61% reported a rise in staff sickness absence due to mental health.
Overall, 27% of trusts are offering food banks for staff, while a further 19% are planning to do so.
Impact on patients
When it comes to patients, 95% of Trust leaders said the cost-of-living crisis had either significantly or severely worsened health inequalities in their local area.
Patients are being forced to make difficult choices about heating or eating, while some are attending fewer appointments due to travel costs.
Overall, 72% of trust leaders said they had seen an increase in people with poor mental health due to stress, debt and poverty.
Director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, Miriam Deakin, said increasing numbers of nurses and other staff, particularly in the lower pay bands, are finding they are unable to afford to work in the NHS.
"The squeeze on pay and the rising cost of living means they are having to make some very tough decisions," she said.
"The sad fact is some can earn more working for online retailers or in supermarkets.
"Others are taking second jobs. We have heard of staff stopping their pension contributions and not being able to fill up their cars to get to work.
"The NHS already had a problem with vacancies and our fear is that will just get worse.
"The most worrying thing for us in the NHS is the very direct chilling effect the cost-of-living crisis is having on recruitment and retention.
"Trust leaders are seeing a slowdown in people willing to join the NHS, as well as staff looking to join other industries such as hospitality or retail which offer more competitive pay.
"A number of Trusts are providing food banks. There are heart-rending stories of nurses choosing between eating during the day and being able to buy a school uniform for their children at home."
Cost of living crisis:
Interest rates and inflation go up
Inflation rose by 8.8% in the 12 months to January 2023, down from 9.2% in December 2022. With interest rates also rising to 4%, those saving money will earn more interest on their finances, whilst those paying mortgages would pay more interest to the bank.
Energy bills
The price of energy went up incredibly as the cost of living crisis hit, with the gas price spike caused largely by the war in Ukraine. The price cap - which is set by an independent regulator to help offset costs onto customers - was set to rise to £3,549 for an average home in October but a price freeze from the government restricted the typical bill to £2,500. That's still an increase of 27% from the previous energy cap and as it's a cap on unit cost, the more energy you use the higher your bill will be.
Food prices
The cost of a weekly shop also has gone up as a result of the cost of living crisis. As a result of the war in Ukraine, a number of products including cooking oils and wheat have been disrupted. This means that several products are now considerably more expensive, driving bills up for customers.
Prices at the pumps
The average cost of petrol has also rose to unprecedented levels. Supply lines for petrol have been thrown into doubt as a result of the war in Ukraine, as Russia is a large export partner for gas, oil and fuel. In April 2022, the average price for a litre of petrol on the forecourt was 160.2p, whilst a litre of diesel would cost 170.5p. By late June 2022 the price had risen to an average of 190.9p for a litre of unleaded and 198.9p for a litre of diesel. In March 2023 the price wass on average of 147.03 in petrol and 167.04 in diesel.
Average cost of filling up a car with petrol hits £100
On 9th June 2022, the average cost of filling up a car with petrol hit £100 for the first time ever. Diesel had already hit that milestone. It comes as the cost of fuel hit a record high of one pound eighty a litre. The 2p rise was the biggest daily jump in 17 years. Prices have dropped by at least 20p per litre since the high point.