The number of nurses in the NHS increased by 12,131 compared to last year, and the number of doctors has risen by 6,629, figures published by the NHS Digital show.
Compared to 2010, there are over 22,000 more nurses, midwives and health visitors in the NHS and over 23,100 more doctors. All professionally qualified clinical staff, doctors, nurses, scientific, therapeutic and technical staff and support to clinical staff are at record levels.
‘It’s fantastic to see record numbers of NHS staff, including 6,000 more doctors and 12,000 more nurses compared to last year,’ said Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock.
‘Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our NHS staff, we are turning the tide on coronavirus, and I remain absolutely committed to growing the workforce and making the NHS the best possible place to work.’
The figures for March do not include any former healthcare professionals who volunteered to return to the frontline to support the NHS during the pandemic, as they began to deployed from April.
‘We will continue to do everything we can to attract and retain our brilliant NHS staff as part of delivering 50,000 more nurses by end of the Parliament,’ added Mr Hancock.