Discrimination, poor mental health identified as key drivers of workforce attrition

Implementing policies to combat discrimination could not only address inequity but improve workforce retention - suggests a new study

A nationwide survey has highlighted the significant impact of discrimination and poor mental health on the attrition of UK healthcare workers following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Published in The Lancet, the study found that healthcare staff experiencing higher levels of depression, anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and burnout were more likely to consider or act on leaving the National Health Service (NHS).

The findings are based on data from 3,282 healthcare workers surveyed in 2023–2024 as part of the UK-REACH (United Kingdom Research study into Ethnicity and COVID-19 outcomes in Healthcare workers) study.

Nearly half of respondents (1,414) reported having considered or taken steps toward leaving healthcare, with 6.5 per cent taking definitive action. Additionally, over 55 per cent of participants had contemplated or acted on changing their field.

Workers aged 50–<60, those from the Asian group, and in dental and nursing roles were found to be at higher risk of attrition.

The study also uncovered a link between poor mental health—specifically depression, anxiety, PTSD, and burnout—and intentions to leave healthcare.

Discrimination and harassment, whether from colleagues or patients, were strongly  associated with attrition intentions, as was feeling undervalued by the government.

“The profound association between poor mental health and intending to leave the NHS workforce suggests that effective mental health treatment for staff may improve retention alongside their health,” the authors stated.

They emphasised the need for fostering higher workplace engagement via supportive and collaborative environments, opportunities for personal development, and organisational changes to minimise burnout.

The study also called for policies to address workplace discrimination, noting that it “may not only help address inequity but improve retention.”

As healthcare demand grows, the NHS is projected to face a shortfall of over a quarter of a million staff by 2036/37.

To address the care backlog and workforce shortages, the government and the NHS have pledged to increase recruitment and also retain 130,000 staff by 2039.

“Retention is vital to address current staff shortages, avoid increasing pressure on remaining staff, and ensure sufficient capacity to train new staff,” the researchers noted.

They also suggested implementing measures to make staff feel valued by the government, including resolving pay disputes, to improve retention and sustain the healthcare workforce.