HC Deb 19 December 2002 vol 396 cc1052-3W
Mr. Paul Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS(a) doctors and (b) nurses there were in each year since 1992. [87418]

Mr. Hutton

The information requested is shown in the table.

Between 1997 and 2001 the number of doctors, excluding general practitioner retainers, employed in the national health service increased by 9,550, or 10.7 per cent., from 89,620 to 99,170.

Between September 1997 and 2001 the number of nurses employed in the NHS increased by 31,520, or 10 per cent., from 318,860 to 350,380. This compares to the decrease of nearly 5,000, or 1.5 per cent., between 1992 and 1997.

NHS HCHS and general practice doctors and nurses in England, 1992–2001
Numbers (headcount)
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
Other doctors in training 16,270 16,720 16,800 17,790 18,640
of which:
Hospital medical doctors in training 14,610 15,050 15,210 16,160 16,990
Hospital practitioners and clinical assistants2 7,770 7,440 6,900 7,130 6,740
Other hospital medical staff 1,660 2,090 2,260 2,840 3,330
Other medical and dental staff 5,250 4,940 4,270 4,080 3,820
GMPs excluding retainers 28,180 28,460 28,740 28,870 29,120
Unrestricted principals and equivalents 25,970 26,290 26,570 26,700 26,860
Other practitioners3 600 640 720 760 960
GP registrars 1,610 1,530 1,440 1,400 1,310
GP retainers — — — — —
Qualified Nurses 323,800 319,320 313,240 316,890 319,150
HCHS qualified nurses 307,160 301,810 296,740 298,650 301,250
Practice nurses4 16,640 17,520 16,500 18,240 17,900

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
All doctors excluding retainers1 89,620 91,840 93,980 96,320 99,170
Consultants 21,370 22,220 23,220 24,310 25,690
of which:
Hospital medical consultants 20,200 21,040 22,020 23,040 24,400
Registrar group 11,910 12,130 12,680 12,730 13,220
of which:
Hospital medical registrar group 11,360 11,590 12,100 12,160 12,650
Other doctors in training 19,550 19,840 19,950 20,270 20,690
of which:
Hospital medical doctors in training 17,920 18,200 18,320 18,690 19,070
Hospital practitioners and clinical assistants2 6.610 6,320 6,010 5,620 5,360
Other hospital medical staff 3,780 4,500 5,100 5,860 6,360
Other medical and dental staff 3,620 3,440 3,040 2,900 2,530
GMPs excluding retainers 29,390 29,700 29,990 30,250 30,680
Unrestricted principals and equivalents 27.100 27,390 27,590 27,700 27,840
Other practitioners3 950 860 880 890 960
GP registrars 1,340 1,450 1,520 1,660 1,880
GP retainers — — 970 1,120 1,150
Qualified Nurses 318,860 323,460 329,640 335,950 350,380
HCHS qualified nurses 300,470 304,560 310,140 316,750 330,540
Practice nurses4 18,390 18,890 19,500 19.200 19,850
1 GP Retainers were first counted in 1999.
2 Most of these doctors also work as GPs. To avoid double counting, medical hospital practitioners and medical clinical assistants are not included in the All Doctors total.
3 Other Practitioners include Assistants, Restricted Principals, Salaried Doctors (para. 52 SFA) and PMS Other GPs.
4 Practice nurse headcount information was estimated in 1992. 1993, 1998 and 1999. Underlying figures for 2000 suggest the practice nurse figure may be an overestimate.

Sources:

Department of Health medical and dental workforce census. Data as at 30 September each year.

Department of Health general and personal medical services statistics. Data as at 1 October 1990–99 and 30 September 2000–01.

Department of Health non-medical workforce census. Data as at 30 September each year.