NHSScotland Workforce Statistics are published today by the Information Services Division (ISD) of NHS National Services Scotland at   http://www.isdscotland.org/workforce.

This release includes:

• Staff in post across all NHS staff groups to 30 September 2005
• Consultant vacancies to 30 September 2005
• General, Community and Hospital Dentists to 30 September 2005
• Staff employed in the General Medical Service to 30 September 2005

KEY POINTS:

Unless specified otherwise, figures quoted refer to headcounts.   Where used, WTE refers to “whole time equivalent” staff in post (see background note below). 

All Staff

• there were 153,996 staff in NHSScotland, an increase of 4,227 (2.8%) since September 2004.
• the WTE number of staff was 129,425.6, an increase of 3,441.1 (2.7%) since September 2004.

Nursing & Midwifery (all figures quoted are WTE)

• almost half (42.9%) of all staff in NHSScotland were employed in the nursing and midwifery staff group.  At 30^th September 2005, NHSScotland employed 55,468.7 nursing and midwifery staff, an increase of 915.8 (1.7%) since September 2004.  Of these, 39,834.0 were registered grades (up 2.4%) and 15,634.7 were non-registered grades (down 0.1%).

Medical & Dental Staff

• there were 16,828 medical and dental staff in NHSScotland, an increase of 485 (3.0%) since September 2004.
• the consultant establishment has increased by 150 (3.9%) to 4,031 since September 2004. The number of consultants in post increased by 131 (3.6%) to 3,724 and the number of consultant vacancies was 307, 19 more than at September 2004.  The consultant vacancy rate was 7.6%, compared with 7.4% at September 2004.
• there were 2,695 general, community and hospital dentists, an increase of 56 (2.1%) since September 2004.
• there were 4,538 doctors (including registrars) employed in the General Medical Service (i.e.General Practice), 82 more than at September 2004.

Other Staff (all figures quoted are WTE)

• 8,641.7 allied health professionals, an increase of 319.6 (3.8%) since September 2004.
• 3,237.2 technical staff , an increase of 227.9 (7.6%) since September 2004.
• 2,883.4 ambulance staff, an increase of 104.6 (3.8%) since September 2004.
• 24,598.7 administrative, clerical and senior management staff, an increase of 1,034.6 (4.4%) since September 2004.
• 12,506.7 works, trades and ancillary staff, an increase of 260.7 (2.1%) since September 2004.

BACKGROUND NOTES FOR EDITORS

• This is an ISD Scotland National Statistics release.  National Statistics are produced to high professional standards and adhere to codes of practice.  They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs and they are produced free from any political interference.
• Whole Time Equivalents (WTEs) adjust headcount staff figures to take account of part-time staff and are a more appropriate indicator for staff groups which have a high number of part-time staff (eg nursing and midwifery).
• Figures for all staff groups, except Medical and Dental, are published every 6 months, showing staff in post at 31 March and 30 September.  Figures for consultants are published quarterly; other medical and dental staff groups are annual at 30 September. 
• ISD Scotland collects, collates and maintains a wide range of health service data sets, which form the national corporate database for NHSScotland.   By providing information, statistical services and effective use of information management and technology, ISD Scotland contributes to health improvement by informing decision making, research and debate within NHSScotland, government departments and other organisations.  ISD Scotland is part of National Services Scotland (the common name of the Common Services Agency) for the NHS in Scotland.  For more information about ISD Scotland see the ISD Scotland website: http://www.isdscotland.org

For further information, contact:

Jane Chisholm,
Senior Information Analyst,
Tel. 0131 275 6197.
e-mail: jane.chisholm@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk

Nicola Fleming
Principal Information Analyst
Tel. (0131) 275 6719
e-mail: nicola.fleming@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk

Kathryn Middleditch
(General Medical Service queries only)
Senior Information Analyst
Tel. (0131) 275 6581
e-mail: kathryn.middleditch@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk     

Stephen Goold
(General Dental Service queries only)
Senior Information Analyst
Tel: (0131) 275 6316
e-mail: stephen.goold@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk