NHS chief says staffing is 'deteriorating' as health workers leave for warehouse jobs

NHS Confederation boss Matthew Taylor said the staff situation was "deteriorating" as Christmas approached, with workers quitting jobs in health services above their pay

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NHS boss reveals healthcare workers are leaving the sector to work in warehouses

Health and social care workers are quitting to get better-paying jobs in warehouses and retail, an NHS boss has revealed.

Matthew Taylor, boss of the NHS Confederation, said the workforce situation was "deteriorating" as Christmas approached, with workers leaving health service jobs above their pay.

Hundreds of thousands of NHS workers are set to strike over the government's refusal to give them pay rises in excess of inflation.

The Royal College of Nursing has told the government its members will strike in December unless detailed pay talks begin within days.

It comes amid warnings that the NHS will remain on 'crisis footing' despite the money pledged in the autumn statement.

Mr. Taylor told Sky News' Ridge on Sunday: "The cost of living crisis is tough on everyone, but the private sector can ultimately pass on the extra costs, they can raise wages.

Matthew Taylor of the NHS Confederation (

Picture:

Sky News)

“I talk to people every day who work in health and social care and they talk about the departure of staff to go to work in warehouses, to go to work in retail, which is escalating at Christmas.

"So this situation is deteriorating."

Asked whether leaving the EU had any impact on the workforce, he replied: "There is no doubt that Brexit is part of it and the government itself has taken steps to bringing in more staff from around the world.

"We have labor shortages everywhere and they are particularly acute in health and care because we don't pay very much and the work is extremely demanding.

"But yes, Brexit has cut the supply of labor and we have had to scramble now to try and bring people in because without foreign staff our NHS just wouldn't work...