New figures from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) show that for the first time in recent history more midwives and nurses are leaving the register than are joining, with homegrown UK nurses leaving in the largest numbers.
Steve Fouch from the Christian Medical Fellowship told Premier the number of people training to be nurses has been declining for years. It has in turn placed increased pressure on those still on the wards.
He said: "They will be working harder to keep everything running, and it's worth bearing in mind these are people who go way over and beyond their contracted hours on a regular basis.
"But it can't be taken for granted. We have to support, encourage and give breaks to our staff in a way that perhaps the system at the moment is not allowing."
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) called on the Government to scrap the pay cap as a matter of urgency to stem the numbers going.
Bishop of Truro, Tim Thornton, told Premier: "It concerns me enormously. I mean it's rather shocking in a sense to see how those numbers seem to be dropping. It relates to the wider issue politically at the moment about the cap on pay in the public sector, so it will be very interesting to see what comes from the government in response to this. "
Of 4,544 people surveyed in the last year on reasons for leaving, just under half said they were not retiring.
Among this group, top reasons for leaving were working conditions (for example staffing levels and workload), cited by 44 per cent, a change in personal circumstances (such as ill health), cited by 28 per cent and disillusionment with the quality of care provided to patients, cited by 27 per cent.
Fouch told Premier the main issues that need to be addressed are training and resourcing to relieve the pressure nurses and midwives feel.
He said: "It is that pressure and also that sense of not being able to give that kind of care they want to give to their patients because of that pressure.
"It leaves people thinking 'what's the point of doing this job if I can't actually deliver the care I've been trained to and want to give?' "
Saffron Cordery, director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers said a new staff retention programme will offer support to those NHS trusts with the highest leaving rates.
She said: "However, until we address the underlying issues driving retention problems, including the pay cap and the unsustainable workplace pressures, these approaches will only have a limited impact."
Fouch encouraged Christians to support nurses they come in contact with and not underestimate the power of saying "thank you".
He added: "Churches can do a huge amount just to encourage the staff in members of their own congregation by being flexible with them, by praying with them, by supporting and encouraging them and by saying 'thank you'.
"Part of the reasons why they feel dissatisfied and under pressure is they don't often get recognised for what they're doing. Just a simple "thank you" and support can go a long way to help."
