This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Increase in NHS workforce
24/03/2003
The number of staff employed by NHSScotland has
increased by over 4,000 according to new figures out
today.
The figures from the Information and Statistics Division
show an across the board increase between 2001 and 2002 for
medical and nursing staff. The figures do not include staff
working in the primary care sector.
The figures show:
- A 956 increase in nursing and midwifery staff from
52,204 to 53,160;
- A 579 increase in medical staff from 7,990 to
8,569; and
- A 425 increase in the allied health professions
from 7,289 to 7,714.
The statistics also show a 6.9% increase in scientific
and professional grades (includes clinical psychologists
and pharmacists) while the number of senior managers has
been reduced by a further 52.
Welcoming the figures Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm
said:
"We know that service improvements must be supported by
staff expansion and I welcome these increases across the
professions. We now have more nurses, more doctors, and
more allied professionals delivering services to
patients.
"The figures also show that we are investing in more
qualified staff providing a richer skill-mix and better
quality care for patients.
"We will continue our efforts to support workforce
planning and recruitment initiatives to address particular
problems in specific specialities and in specific
geographic areas."
The ISD statistics are available on the NHSScotland
website at
www.show.scot.nhs.uk
As per the ISD statistics, the figures shown are for
whole time equivalent (WTE).