NHS workforce shows slight fall in 2012

04 April 2013

The number of people working for the NHS in England fell slightly in the last year, Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) figures show.

Nearly 1.36 million people (1,358,295) were working for the NHS in England at 30 September 2012 — a 0.2% (3,238) decrease from 2011.

However, the latest headcount represents an increase of approximately 200,000 (16.9 per cent) compared to a decade ago (1,161,483 in 2002) with an average annual increase over the period of 1.6 per cent.

Today’s annual census reports cover staff working in hospital, community, general and personal medical services and show an increase in most clinical staff categories in the year to September 2012. However, there were decreases in the number of hospital and community health service (HCHS) nurses, clinical support and infrastructure staff, including managers.

HSCIC today also publishes its routine provisional monthly figures - to December 2012 - for key HCHS staff groups. These figures show most trends over the year to 30 September 2012, as reflected in the annual census report, have continued to December 2012. The exception is HCHS nurses and clinical support staff, which have subsequently increased.

Figures at 30 September 2012

Support staff:

NHS infrastructure support staff numbers stood at 215,071, representing a decrease of 4,553 (2.1 per cent) since 2011, but an increase of 25,797 (13.6 per cent) since 2002 (an average annual increase of 1.3 per cent). Provisional figures for December 2012 show a further decrease of 710 (0.3 per cent) since September 2012.

- Of these staff, managers and senior managers stood at 37,314, representing a decrease of 900 (2.4 per cent) since 2011, but an increase of 5,020 (15.5 per cent) since 2002 (an average annual increase of 1.5 per cent). Provisional figures for December 2012 show a further decrease of 112 (0.3 per cent) since September 2012.

Clinical support staff stood at 343,927, representing a decrease of 3,137 (0.9 per cent) since 2011 but an increase of 31,196 (10.0 per cent) since 2002 (an average annual increase of 1.0 per cent). Provisional figures for December 2012 show an increase of 731 (0.2 per cent) since September 2012.

Professionally qualified clinical staff:

This group stood at 687,810, representing an increase of 1,063 (0.2 per cent) since 2011 but a 115,281 (20.1 per cent) increase since 2002 (an average annual increase of 1.9 per cent). Of these staff:

Hospital and community health service medical and dental staff stood at 107,242, representing a 1,531 increase (1.4 per cent) since 2011 and a 30,211 (39.2 per cent) increase since 2002 (an average annual increase of 3.4 per cent). Provisional figures for December 2012 show a further increase of 365 (0.3 per cent) since September 2012.

Of these, consultant numbers stood at 40,394, a 1,306 (3.3 per cent) increase since 2011 and a 13,324 (49.2 per cent) increase since 2002 (an average annual increase of 4.1 per cent). Provisional figures for December 2012 show a further increase of 316 (0.8 per cent) since September 2012.

Hospital and community health service qualified nurses stood at 346,410, representing a 2,283 (0.7 per cent) decrease since 2011 but a 31,531 (10.0 per cent) increase since 2002 (an average annual increase of 1.0 per cent). Provisional figures for December 2012 show an increase of 2,585 (0.7 per cent) since September 2012.

Scientific, technical and therapeutic staff stood at 153,472, representing an increase of 1,256 (0.8 per cent) since 2011 and a 36,874 (31.6 per cent) increase since 2002 (an average annual increase of 2.8 per cent). Provisional figures for December 2012 showed a further increase of 943 (0.6 per cent) since September 2012.

In primary care, GP numbers stood at 40,265, a 485 (1.2 per cent) increase on 2011 and an increase of 7,973 (24.7 per cent) since 2002 (an average annual increase of 2.2 per cent).

Health and Social Care Information Centre chief executive Tim Straughan said: “The annual census provides a snapshot of one of the biggest workforces in the world and is of great significance to not just the health service and policy makers but also the wider public.

“Today’s figures show an overall fall in staff numbers over the latest year, with decreases for nurses and support staff. However, if we consider these figures compared to a decade ago, there are now about 200,000 more people working for the NHS in England.”

 

 

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