Record number of doctors and nurses in NHS
RECORD numbers of doctors and nurses now work in the NHS, with nearly 70,000 more staff recruited in the past year.
Nearly 1.34 million full-time staff are employed in the health service in England, including 800 more GPs.
Over 7,000 additional doctors have been employed in NHS trusts – up 5.3% on last year – while an extra 21,000 nurses are in post, a rise of 6.5% on January 2023’s total.
Andrew Stephenson, health and secondary care minister, said the NHS is a source of national pride.
Writing in the Daily Express, he added: “But thanks to the long-term decisions we’re taking, the NHS’ best years are yet to come.”
He insisted that the service will thrive following a difficult few years caused by the pandemic.
Mr Stephenson said: “We all know the NHS and those working in it have faced unprecedented challenges.
“Many people – indeed many Daily Express readers – might be worried about pressure points and the way the NHS is running. But I want to take this opportunity to tell readers: We are taking action. If we stick to the plan, the NHS will thrive.”
NHS England is one of the world’s biggest organisations and funding hit a record of nearly £165billion a year.
This year Rishi Sunak announced the first long-term workforce plan to train and retain more health staff.
Target
Compared with 2010, when the Tories took power, there are almost 325,700 more full-time staff working in NHS trusts, a 32% increase.
Over the same period there are 44,800 extra doctors, up 47%, and 73,400 more nurses, a rise of 27%.
The Government said that data for last September showed it had reached its target of 50,000 additional nurses six months early.