NHS Retirement Fellowship response to Health and Social Care Committee report on burnout in the NHS and social care

Please see below our Press statement in response to the Health and Social Care Committee report about burnout in the NHS.

In response to the Health and Social Care Committee report on burnout in the NHS and social care, John Rostill OBE, chief executive of the NHS Retirement Fellowship, and a former NHS chief executive, said:

“We know from talking with our members and others that the regular experiences of NHS staff (including some of our retired members who have returned to the frontline) has manifested over the past 16 months into burnout and trauma for far too many hard working, dedicated NHS staff with many now clearly looking at their career options. Many staff have delayed their retirement plans to help support the NHS through its hour of need. Conversely, some are bringing their retirement plans forward because they have been so affected by their experiences of working on the frontline during the pandemic.

“We have received many emails and letters from NHS staff who have retired or recently retired and their experiences make difficult reading about the service which our members have an accumulated quarter of a million years worth of experience and service. This is why we are currently looking to develop our own specific programme of research and support for retired NHS staff who join our organisation who have continued to work throughout the pandemic.

“We were disappointed that the committee’s report failed to recognise the impact of retirement on NHS workforce planning in these exceptional times for the NHS and we stand by ready to help in any way we can to support NHS staff into people into retirement.”

If you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to contact Lucia Hiden at northeastengland@nhsrf.org.uk.”

Follow the link below to see the full  Health and Social Care Committee report

Workforce burnout and resilience in the NHS and social care report