• Recently-released figures show that a record number of doctors and nurses are now working in the NHS in England—with the Conservative Government on track to deliver its commitment for 50,000 more nurses by 2024.
  • Almost 4,000 more doctors and 9,300 more nurses are working in the NHS compared to September 2021, including 422 more doctors and 1,807 more nurses in the North West.
  • These new staff will help to deliver additional appointments, speed up diagnoses, and help to tackle the Covid backlogs.

The North West will benefit from 422 new doctors and 1,807 new nurses as part of the Conservative Government’s NHS recruitment efforts, which means there is now a record number of doctors, nurses, and staff working in the NHS in England.

The recruitment drive will mean better care for patients in the North West, with a total of 2,229 new doctors and nurses for the region.

Nationally, there are now almost 1.24 million full-time-equivalent staff working in the NHS in England—an increase of over 34,000 since September 2021.

As part of the recruitment programme, almost 4,000 doctors and over 9,300 nurses have been recruited in the last 12 months, meaning there are now over 34,000 doctors and almost 45,000 nurses working in the NHS.

Together, these doctors and nurses will help to ensure that patients receive the care they deserve—including by delivering extra scans and check-ups, cutting waiting times, and delivering critical services.

Since 2010, the number of clinical staff in the NHS has grown by more than 34,170 doctors and 44,820 nurses, and—for the fifth year running—the Government has hit its target for GP trainee recruitment, with 4,000 new trainee doctors accepting GP training placements.

Eddisbury MP, Edward Timpson CBE KC, said:

“The pandemic has resulted in a backlog of operations and procedures, but we must ensure that patients receive the care they need.

“I am delighted therefore that 422 new doctors and 1,807 new nurses have been recruited for the North West, as part of a recruitment drive that has resulted in more doctors and nurses working in the NHS than ever before.

“This recruitment means the Government is well on its way to recruiting 50,000 more nurses by 2024—delivering on its promise to the British people.”

The Secretary of State for Health & Social Care, the Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP, added:

“Supporting the workforce is one of my immediate priorities, and we are making significant progress in training and recruiting a record number of nurses, doctors and healthcare professionals. There are almost 4,000 more doctors and over 9,000 more nurses in the NHS than last year.

“I want to thank our brilliant NHS staff who work tirelessly to look after us and our loved ones, and continue to inspire future generations to have a rewarding career in the NHS.

“We’re building a stronger, healthier NHS for the long-term, to give people the security of knowing that it will be there for them when they need it.”