22 | Nursing in Practice | Spring 2022
COMMENT
We urgently need a national
nursing workforce plan
Action must be taken to support the nursing workforce , in terms of planning , pay and recognition at this crucial time , says Marilyn Eveleigh
Marilyn Eveleigh , nurse adviser and independent trainer in East Sussex
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Nursing has been pivotal in fighting Covid-19 , and I ’ m proud to have played my part in the historic battle against a global pandemic . The rallying call to run services , support colleagues and safeguard patients was answered by nurses in every discipline : we were redeployed , retrained and reinvigorated to fulfil the professional role we were trained for .
Around 15,000 nurses whose registration had lapsed returned to practice via a temporary NMC register , created to attract nurses back and simplify the recruitment of international nurses . Many nurses delayed , or returned from , retirement , taking on new skills and challenges , contributing to the Dunkirk spirit that prevailed .
The feelgood factor was evident within health and social care services and in the appreciation of the public – remember the ‘ clap for carers ’ at 8pm each Thursday , skipping supermarket queues and generous retailers ’ discounts ? What does the nursing world look like now , as that warm glow rapidly cools ? Before the pandemic , we already had 40,000 NHS nursing vacancies , with a significant shortage in primary care . It is worse now . Globally , there is a huge nursing shortage .
How many of the 15,000 nurses on the temporary NMC register , who may have a limited period in which to move back to the permanent register , will stay on board ? Their departure would be a significant loss . Those nurses who put off retirement will now actually retire . More losses . Yet many might stay if offered more flexible working arrangements to support a better work-life balance .
Before and during the pandemic there were reports of poor morale , exhaustion and burnout due to high vacancy rates , absences and increased workloads . Many nurses feel overworked and undervalued , toiling in chaotic , disjointed systems . Twelve-hour shifts and the inability to give the care we aspire to will not entice nurses to remain : 400 NHS staff
The promise to recruit 10,000 overseas nurses is short-sighted and unethical
are leaving every week . For general practice nurses , reconfiguring priorities , access and clinics while facing a major backlog of patient reviews would be daunting and risky , even without the staffing shortage .
The UK has a dire workforce crisis and , despite the heroic frontline efforts , it ’ s getting worse with no robust plan to address it . There are not enough clinicians to cover the pandemic backlog as well as routine care and new digital services .
The Government ’ s promise to recruit 10,000 overseas nurses in England by April 2022 is short-termist , short-sighted and unethical . We need to grow our own . We urgently need a national nursing workforce plan .
Nursing has been identified as one of the most undervalued , underpaid professions , and recent indications from ministers of a 3 % pay offer will not be welcome , with inflation at 5.5 % and higher NHS pension contributions due from October .
The Government ’ s suggestion that a higher award would mean less funding to address recruitment and the backlog shocks me . On the contrary , paying nurses fairly will improve staffing , boost efficiency and increase patient safety . This is what the public wants and deserves . It is what nurses want , and deserve .