An independent survey of 1338 nurses, midwives and health visitors commissioned by Unison as part of its 1998 evidence to the pay review body shows that poor morale as a result of shortages, cutbacks work pressures and low pay is causing two-thirds of nurses to consider leaving the NHS and the nursing profession (Thornley, 1997a). These are alarming statistics but are not surprising when similar results have been forecast in previous research (e.g. Seccombe and Smith, 1997).