Doctor gives 5 tips for NHS to ‘prevent fatal haemorrhage of staff’

After a year of working in Australia 🇦🇺, here are my top 5 things the NHS 🇬🇧could replicate to help prevent a fatal haemorrhage of staff alongside pay restoration 🧵#medtwitter #NHS

— Dr Matt Morgan (@dr_mattmorgan) January 31, 2023

– 2 week pay cycles
With frequent movement of NHS staff in training, pay errors are common and distressing. Having a shorter pay cycle allows these to be quickly captured and corrected. It may also allow easier financial planning for those on low incomes. 1/5

— Dr Matt Morgan (@dr_mattmorgan) January 31, 2023

– Up-front study leave
Rather than using slow, bureaucratic claim processes that reimburse in retrospect, Australia pays a study budget in your regular pay. This encourages professional development and staff can afford to pay for courses prospectively. 2/5

— Dr Matt Morgan (@dr_mattmorgan) January 31, 2023

– Link work to pay
The NHS uses complex formulae for out-of-hours payments. Australia links shifts to pay – work a Bank holiday one week, get paid more the next. This encourages flexibility, swaps, fairness and feelings of worth as work is linked to an outcome. 3/5

— Dr Matt Morgan (@dr_mattmorgan) January 31, 2023

– Tax breaks
Rather than punitive pension tax driving staff to retire/reduce, Australian healthcare staff have tax breaks. You "salary package" many aspects of life that support service from rent to groceries. This makes public service competitive against private industry. 4/5

— Dr Matt Morgan (@dr_mattmorgan) January 31, 2023

– Long service leave
Staff are given an extra 13 weeks leave every 7 years. Mini-retirements, extended breaks or using small amounts regularly helps reduce burnout, sickness rates and rewards commitment with more than a fake gold clock. It also helps retention in the sector. 5/5

— Dr Matt Morgan (@dr_mattmorgan) January 31, 2023