13 December 2002
The NHS in England aims to recruit at least 15,000 more GPs and hospital consultants, 30,000 more therapists and scientists, and 35,000 more nurses, midwives and health visitors by 2008.
However, these plans could be scuppered by the 150,000 staff who are over 50 and an increasing trend towards taking early retirement.
A King's Fund report, Great to be grey, said older staff were retiring because they were fed up with heavy workloads, long hours and low morale. Most can take early retirement at 55.
The heaviest losses could be in nursing and medicine. One in five nurses is 50 or over, while one in four GPs could quit work within the next ten years.
A quarter of allied health professionals, which includes physiotherapists and radiographers, are aged between 45 and 54, the report added.
'One in seven workers in the NHS, about 150,000 people, are aged 50 years or over,' said the report's author, Sandra Meadows.
'With fewer young people taking up jobs in the health service, it is crucial we hold on to experienced and skilled older workers, who have a wealth of knowledge and expertise.'
She added that the NHS must learn from private sector employers, such as DIY warehouse chain B&Q, which has successfully attracted an older workforce. Hours should be flexible, particularly for those caring for dependents, and training schemes should aim to give older workers new skills.
PFdec2002
