A RECORD number of NHS staff across the Bradford district left their posts in 2021-2022, according to new figures.

It comes as the number of resignations across England soared, with nursing, doctor and midwife trade unions highlighting poor pay and a lack of mental and physical support as critical reasons for the exodus.

Across the country, 140,000 staff members resigned last year – up from 99,000 the year before – while an average of 101,000 staff resigned annually in the nine years before the pandemic.

The figures cover medical and administration staff. A resignation does not necessarily mean the staff member has left the NHS altogether, as the figures also include any promotions and relocations.

NHS Digital figures, which are rounded to the nearest five, show around 320 NHS staff resigned from their roles at Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust in 2021-22.

This was up from approximately 290 in 2019-20 – the year leading up to the coronavirus pandemic.

Bob Champion, chief people officer at Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Staff are our most valued asset and we continue to offer a broad range of flexible working options and wellbeing support, so staff can develop their careers with the Trust, which we know is really valued by staff.   

“In the recent national data, we are around mid-point compared to others, but looking at recruitment overall, our figures are stable. 

“Following the pandemic, we have had more staff retiring, but with a higher number returning to part-time roles compared to the two previous years.

“Others have moved to further training, to return to the NHS, or have reflected on their work-life balance, but this mirrors the national trend across the NHS.”

At Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 635 NHS staff resigned from their roles in 2021-22. This was up from approximately 485 in 2019-20.

The Trust highlighted the difficulty of the past two years and said retaining its current workforce is a priority. 

A spokesperson said: “Along with other trusts nationally, we have seen an increase in the number of staff leaving the NHS, especially after two particularly difficult and challenging years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“However, our turnover of staff has been reducing month on month since July 2022, which has meant that the rate of staff leaving us has also been reducing.

“Retaining our current workforce remains a priority and we work hard to do this by offering staff flexible career paths and ways of working.

"We place great emphasis on staff support and because of this have developed ‘Thrive’, a health and wellbeing community where staff are supported to learn, grow and reach their full potential and work in an environment where they are treated with dignity and respect."

Meanwhile at Airedale Hospital, 100 people left the NHS foundation in 2021-2022.

This this was up from approximately 255 in 2019-20.

A spokesperson said: “In any given year we expect a number of leavers, which will fluctuate year on year, as well as new starters. 

"Many of our leavers will move between NHS employers - working for the NHS brings significant benefits, not least the world-class training offered and subsequent development opportunities."

The 2021-22 resignation numbers for all three Bradford trusts were the highest since records began a decade earlier.

Dr Latifa Patel, chair of the representative body and workforce lead at the British Medical Association said: "Fixing the workforce crisis isn’t just about recruiting more people, but also about retaining the staff already in the NHS.

"This starts with the Government paying them fairly, and publishing its NHS workforce plan as soon as possible."

The Department for Health and Social Care said it has given one million NHS workers a pay rise of at least £1,400 this year, as well as a three per cent cost-of-living pay increase last year.

A comprehensive workforce strategy to help recruit and retain more staff will be published this year, a spokesperson added.

They said: "There are already record numbers of staff working in the NHS, with 4,700 more doctors and over 10,500 more nurses compared to last year, and we are committed to 50,000 more nurses in the NHS by the end of this parliament."

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