Top hospital boss Chris Hopson says health workers are quitting their jobs to STACK SUPERMARKET SHELVES
Health chief warns workforce gaps are putting safety at risk with patients facing delays and poor quality care
NHS workers are quitting their jobs to stack supermarket shelves to boost their pay, claims England’s top hospital boss.
Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said the health service is facing a staffing crisis.
And he warned workforce gaps are putting safety at risk – with patients facing delays, early closures and poor quality care.
The health boss blamed a lack of pay rises, Brexit fears and poor planning for fuelling staff shortages across many hospitals.
The NHS is Europe’s biggest employer with 1.3 million workers.
But many low-paid workers, such as junior nurses, health care assistants and porters, are now turning their back on the health service.
Many are opting to work in supermarkets instead because they can earn more cash for less stress.
Mr Hopson said: “Workforce concerns are now the number one NHS priority.
“Pay is becoming uncompetitive. Significant numbers of trusts say lower paid staff are leaving to stack shelves in supermarkets rather than carry on working in the NHS.
“And we are getting consistent reports of retention problems because of working pressures in the health service causing stress and burnout.
“At the same time, the uncertainty surrounding Brexit means that vital recruitment from EU countries is dropping rapidly.”
The NHS exec, who earns around £200,000 a year, said the health service was struggling to compete with private sector pay rises.
He called on the next Government to boost staff earnings.
He added: “Years of pay restraint and stressful working conditions are taking their toll.
“Growing problems of recruitment and retention are making it harder for trusts to ensure patient safety. Unsustainable staffing gaps are quickly opening up in hospitals, mental health and community trusts and ambulance services.”
Research by the Health Foundation reveals most NHS staff will have had a real terms pay cut since 2010/11.
It estimates England could face a shortfall of 42,000 nurses by 2020.
Janet Davies, head of the Royal College of Nursing, said many nurses are now heading for the door.
She said: “The Government cannot ignore this warning from hospital bosses – poor pay for NHS staff damages patient care.
“If it now pays more to stack supermarket shelves than work on the wards, Ministers should hang their heads in shame.”