New data reveals staff retention has improved heavily since 2022, despite ongoing claims about record departures following Covid-19.
The queue at Canterbury’s A&E might move a little faster these days. Behind the scenes, fewer NHS workers are walking away from their jobs than at any point since the pandemic began.
NHS England data shows that just 10.1% of hospital and community healthcare staff left their positions in the 12 months to September 2024 – the lowest rate since Covid struck and the second-lowest since 2010. The figures paint a starkly different picture from recent claims suggesting record numbers of departures.
This improvement represents nearly 21,300 fewer leavers compared to the 12.5% rate recorded in the year to September 2022, when staff exits peaked amid pandemic pressures and industrial action.
The Retention Revolution
Behind these numbers lies a quiet transformation in how the NHS keeps its people. The People Promise programme, now expanded to 116 organisations including community services, has supported 4,500 staff to stay in their roles. Pilot schemes reduced leaver rates by an average of 11.8%.
Amanda Pritchard, NHS England chief executive, said the improvements reflect “targeted interventions including flexible working arrangements and better e-rostering systems that give staff more control over their work-life balance.”
But the picture remains complex. Since 2011, NHS leaver rates have averaged 11% annually, with voluntary resignations accounting for over half of all departures. The pandemic initially drove rates down to 9.2% as staff postponed career moves, before they surged as delayed decisions caught up.
The Covid Legacy Debate
Recent discussions on platforms like the BMJ Medicine and Science Podcast have highlighted persistent challenges facing the health service. Dr Kevin Fong, speaking about Covid’s lasting impact, referenced concerns about staff departures reaching historic levels.
Yet the latest workforce data suggests a more fine-grained reality. While 66% of leavers still cite stress as a primary factor, and 62% point to staffing shortages, the actual numbers tell a story of gradual recovery rather than exodus.
Work-life balance has tripled as a reason for leaving since 2013-14, reflecting changing priorities accelerated by the pandemic. Meanwhile, 29% of current staff report often thinking about leaving, though fewer are acting on these thoughts.
Strikes and Shortages
The period between 2022 and 2024 saw unprecedented industrial action, with strikes costing the NHS £1.5 billion by January 2024. Pay disputes and safety concerns drove much of the unrest, coinciding with the peak in departure rates.
Those tensions have since eased, contributing to improved retention alongside practical measures like reduced sickness absence rates and better rostering systems.
Looking Forward
The NHS still faces significant workforce challenges. With over 37,000 nurses among those who left by June 2023, and persistent vacancy pressures affecting patient waiting times, the service remains stretched.
But the trajectory offers hope. Retention schemes are expanding, working conditions are improving incrementally, and the haemorrhaging of experienced staff appears to have slowed.
Source: @bmj_latest
Key Takeaways
- NHS staff leaving rates fell to 10.1% in 2024, the lowest since the pandemic and second-lowest since 2010
- Nearly 21,300 fewer staff left compared to the 2022 peak of 12.5% departures
- Retention programmes and flexible working arrangements are helping keep experienced workers in post
What This Means for Kent Residents
Kent’s hospitals and community services, overseen by NHS Kent and Medway ICB, are benefiting from these national retention improvements, with local trusts like East Kent Hospitals participating in expanded People Promise programmes. Residents should expect more stable staffing in critical services like A&E and mental health care, though ongoing vacancy pressures may still affect waiting times for non-urgent procedures. If you’re experiencing health concerns, contact NHS 111 for advice, or call 999 in emergencies – the improved staff retention means you’re more likely to see experienced professionals who know the local system well.