STAFF turnover at NHS Borders has reached a ten-year high according to the latest report from NHS Scotland.

NHS Scotland workforce data shows that on March 31, 2013 NHS Borders' turnover rate was 6.2 per cent, however, the figure has risen to 11.8 per cent in the last 10 years (up to the year ending March 31, 2023), marking an increase of 5.6 per cent.

From 2020 to 2021 turnover fell from 9.4 per cent to 8.6 per cent.

According to NHS Borders the withdrawal of temporary measures associated with the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to the increase in turnover.

An NHS Borders spokesperson said: “The withdrawal of temporary measures and services connected with the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to increased staff turnover and slightly reduced recruitment rates in the last year.

"The most significant of these temporary measures was the phased withdrawal of Test and Protect services between April 2022–October 2022."

The figures also show although the number of staff joining NHS Borders in the last 10 years has risen from 130 in 2013 to 314 in 2023.

The number of staff leaving NHS Borders has also risen.

In 2013 around 153 staff left NHS Borders, and in 2023 around 323 had left.

During the coronavirus pandemic (from the year ending March 31, 2021 to March 31, 2022) 310 people joined NHS Borders, with 221 leaving in 2021, and in 2022 372 joined the service, and 277 left.

However, the local health board has felt "encouraged" as recruitment for nursing staff has improved

“We are particularly encouraged that after spikes in vacancy rates for Registered General Nurses (RGNs) during the pandemic, there has more recently been stronger performance in recruitment.

"We project that higher levels of recruitment to nursing posts will continue during this year.”

For a full breakdown of the joiners and leavers by job type search our interactive table below