A RECORD number of staff left their posts at Hampshire Hospitals Trust (HFFT) last year. 

Figures show that 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 why.

NHS Digital figures, which are rounded to the nearest five, show around 795 NHS staff resigned from their roles at HHFT in 2021-22.

READ MORE: Business activity continues to fall in the south west, survey finds

This was up from approximately 640 in 2019-20 – the year leading up to the coronavirus pandemic – and the highest number since records began a decade earlier.

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.

Pat Cullen, general secretary and chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, said: "Years of underinvestment – including a decade of real-terms pay cuts – means record numbers of staff are leaving the NHS.

"Staff are leaving, realising they can get similar or better pay in supermarkets and retail without the stress of the job, and poor pay is creating severe staff shortages and making patients unsafe."

SEE MORE: Asda change puts almost 300 jobs at risk as 4,000 face pay cuts

Among the departures across England last year were 30,740 nurses and health visitors who voluntarily left their posts – the highest number on record and a 13 per cent increase in 2019-20.

Of them, 170 were based at Hampshire Hospitals Trust – up from 120 in 2019-20.

Dr Latifa Patel, chair of the representative body and workforce lead at the British Medical Association said the rise in resignations is unsurprising due to the difficulty in finding a "healthy work-life balance".

Kieron Galloway, chief people officer at HHFT, added: “We are incredibly grateful for the unwavering commitment our staff showed during the pandemic to care for our patients and communities, evidenced by the low levels of leavers in 2019 – 2020.

“In line with national patterns, since the summer of 2021, this number has increased under the backdrop of a strong employment market and rising pressures across NHS services. A proportion of these leavers will also be reflective of colleagues who have been promoted, moved to other providers within the NHS, and those who had delayed retirement plans from 2020."

Mr Galloway further explained available programmes for their staff such as Thrive, which helps to prioritise areas like flexible work, retirement and rewards.