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Health staff numbers reach new high
16/12/2008
Scotland has more GPs, dentists, medical consultants, nurses and midwives than ever before, figures published today reveal.
The statistics, from ISD Scotland, showed NHS Scotland's total workforce increased by 3,412 (2.1 per cent) last year to 165,551 (at September 30, 2008).
Key points include:
- The total number of medical staff including GPs and medical support was 16,195, an increase of 726 (4.7 per cent) from September 30, 2007.
- The number of consultants was 4,581, an increase of 546 (13.5 per cent) on the previous year. Over the same period, the consultant vacancy rate fell from 6.7 per cent to 4.0 per cent.
- The number of GPs in Scotland has risen by 4.1 per cent to 4,916 as at end of September 2008, from 4,721 in 2007.
- The number of General Dental Service (GDS) dentists in NHS Scotland at September 30, 2008 was 2,703, an increase of 157 (6.2 per cent) from 2007.
- The whole-time equivalent number of nurses and midwives was 57,749.6, an increase of 699.2 (1.2 per cent). The equivalent headcount figure was 67,965, an increase of 620 (0.9 per cent). The vacancy rate for nursing and midwifery fell from 3.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent.
Nicola Sturgeon, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, said:
"The fact that Scotland now has more GPs, dentists, consultants, nurses and midwives than ever before is fantastic news for patients the length and breadth of Scotland.
"I am extremely proud of all our staff, who work together to give Scots one of the best health services in the world.
"These staffing levels are also testimony to the importance the Scottish Government places on our NHS. We are investing record funding of more than 33 billion pounds in our health service over the next three years and this will allow NHS Scotland to continue improving the service it offers to patients.
"Recent reports from NHS Scotland's Chief Executive and Audit Scotland have highlighted that the health service is hitting nearly all of its key targets and doing so within budget.
"I am determined that this progress is maintained so that Scots get a value-for-money NHS that offers the first-class healthcare they deserve."