NHS workforce peaks at 1.4m

New figures from the NHS Information Centre show that by September 2010 the NHS workforce had reached 1,431,557; an increase of 312,600 over the past decade.

However, it is now beginning to fall as NHS organisations make efficiency savings.

Over the past decade, the number of clinicians employed has risen dramatically, with more than 50% more consultants, 25% more GPs, and 22% more nurses.

The number of managers also increased by 16,706 (66.1%) since 2000. Even so, the number of NHS managers represents less than 0.03% of the NHS workforce.

The 2010 workforce figures show a small increase in almost all staff categories over the previous year, but a decrease in numbers for managers and senior managers and for bank nursing staff.

As of September 2010, the NHS employed 41,962 managers and senior managers, a decrease of 2,770 (6.2%) on 2009.

The NHS also employs 233,342 staff within infrastructure support; a decrease of 2,506 (1.1%) on 2009, but an increase of 59,609 (34.3%) on 2000.

This group includes managers and senior managers and covers – but doesn’t separately count – many NHS IM&T professionals.

This compares to 721,717 professionally qualified clinical staff; an increase of 2,707 (0.4%) on 2009 and 167,664 (30%) on 2000.

These clinicians include 37,752 consultants, an increase of 1,734 (4.8%) on 2009 and 13,351 (54.7%) on 2000. For GPs, the latest figure is 39,409; an increase of 198 (0.5%) on 2009 and 8,040 (25.6%) on 2000.

The total number of nurses, including bank and practice nurses, now stands at 410,615, a decrease of 3,678 (0.9%) on 2009 and 74,663 (22.2%) on 2000.

Total employment of qualified scientific, technical and therapeutic staff now stands at 151,607, an increase of 3,301 (2.2%) on 2009 and 45,697 (43.1%) on 2000.

Chief executive of The NHS Information Centre, Tim Straughan, said: “Reductions in managers and infrastructure support staff are likely to reflect in part the need to make management cost reductions in accordance with the NHS Operating Framework.”

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