Page last updated: 15-DEC-2009

Workforce

ONS kitemarkStatistical Publication Notice

15 December 2009

NHS Scotland Workforce Statistics  

(staff in post, vacancies, doctors in training compliance with the New Deal and student nurse training - intakes and attrition rates)

INTRODUCTION

This release provides data on:
  • Staff in post across all NHS staff groups as at 30th September 2009.
  • Vacancy information for Nursing & Midwifery, Allied Health Professions and Consultants as at 30th September 2009.
  • Staff employed in the General Medical Service and General Dental Service as at 30th September 2009.
  • Doctors in training Compliance with the New Deal for rota period February 2009 to July 2009.
  • Student nurse training - intakes and attrition rates.

KEY POINTS

  • The number of staff employed in NHSScotland as at 30th September 2009 is 168,976 (headcount), an increase of 3,425 (2.1%) from 30th September 2008.
  • Nursing & Midwifery staff accounted for 40.4% of all staff (headcount) employed in NHSScotland as at 30th September 2009. The number of Nursing & Midwifery staff in post (headcount) as at 30th September 2009 is 68,681 (headcount) an increase of 716 (1.1%) from 30th September 2008.
  • The number of medical staff in post (including GPs) as at 30th September 2009 is 16,256 (headcount) compared to 16,195 (headcount) as at 30th September 2008, an increase of 0.4%
  • The number of dental staff in post (including dental support) as at 30th September 2009 is 5,002 (headcount), an increase of 412 (9.0%) from 30th September 2008.
  • The number of Allied Health Profession staff in post (headcount) as at 30th September 2009 is 11,777 (headcount), an increase of 435 (3.8%) from 30th September 2008.
Overall NHSScotland workforce summary by staff grouping as at 30th September 2009

WF1209

INTERPRETATION

The tables present figures in both Headcount numbers and Whole Time Equivalents (WTE).  WTE adjust headcount staff figures to take account of part-time staff.  Information on WTE for GPs and GDS is not available, so figures that include GPs and GDS are reported for headcount only.  For all other staff groups, WTE information is available.
 
An employee may hold more than one appointment in NHSScotland. Their appointments may be in more than one NHS organisation, in more than one region, in more than one specialty, or in more than one grade and will therefore be double counted in some tables.
 
During July 2008 Medical and Dental information was migrated from the MEDMAN web based system to the Scottish Workforce Information Standard System (SWISS).  This alignment provided the opportunity to capture all NHSScotland staff in post information in the one system, which has resulted in more robust information being captured and reported. Due to this improved recording, trend information is not directly comparable for 2007 and 2008.
 
During 2008, information presented within the NHSScotland Workforce section changed to reflect the introduction of Agenda for Change.  Historically, NHSScotland workforce information was published in a format based on the pay structure, namely Whitley for the majority of staff.  However Agenda for Change is the new national pay system which has introduced the new pay bands and harmonised terms and conditions for NHS Workers.  As at September 2008, approximately 96% of NHS staff had assimilated onto agenda for change the equivalent number at September 2009 is approximately 99.98%.  The continuation of staff assimilating on to AfC, will in part account for the increase found across certain staff groups.

DETAILED FINDINGS

Nursing & Midwifery

  • As at 30th September 2009, 40.4% of all staff (headcount) in NHSScotland were employed in the nursing and midwifery staff group.
  • The number of nursing and midwifery staff in post as at 30th September 2009 is 58,429.1 (WTE), an increase of 679.5 (1.2%) from 30th September 2008. The corresponding headcount showed an increase of 1.1% from 67,965 as at 30th September 2008 to 68,681 as at 30th September 2009.
  • The nursing and midwifery vacancy rate as at 30th September 2009 is 2.5% with 0.7% being vacant for 3 month or more.

Medical & Dental

  • The number of HCHS medical and dental staff in post as at 30th September 2009 is 12,608 (headcount), compared to 12,534 (headcount) as at 30th September 2008, an increase of 0.6%
  • As at 30th September 2009, there were 4,942 (headcount) doctors (including registrars) employed as General medical practitioners (GPs), 26 (0.5%) more than as at 30th September 2008.
  • As at 30th September 2009, there were 2,743 (headcount) dentists employed in the General Dental Service (i.e.General Practice), 40 (1.5%) more than as at 30th September 2008.
  • The number of consultants in post as at 30th September 2009 is 4,610 (headcount), an increase of 29 (0.6%) from 30th September 2008.
  • The consultant vacancy rate as at 30th September 2009 is 3.5%, compared with 4.0% as at 30th September 2008.

Doctors in Training Compliance the New Deal

  • The overall compliance with the New Deal across NHSScotland based on the number of hours worked , natural breaks, exceeding shift length and rest requirements is 98.2% for Rota period February 2009 to July 2009.

Other Staff

  • The number of allied health professions staff in post as at 30th September 2009 is 9,579.5 (WTE), an increase of 336.7 (3.6%) from 30th September 2008.
  • The allied health profession vacancy rate as at 30th September 2009 is 3.4% % with 1.2% being vacant for 3 month or more.
  • The number of administrative services staff in post as at 30th September 2009 is 26,048.9 (WTE), an increase of 1,082.8 (4.3%) from 30th September 2008. Within this, there has been a rise of 5.5% of central functions staff, an increase of 15.7% of support to clinical staff and an 8% decrease of management grades.
  • The number of support services staff in post as at 30th September 2009 is 14,761.2 (WTE), an increase of 393.3 (2.7%) from 30th September 2008.
  • The number of emergency services staff in post as at 30th September 2009.is 3,703.5 (WTE), an increase of 145.8 (4.1%) from 30th September 2008.
  • As at 30th September 2009 NHSScotland employed 763.3 (WTE) Personal and social care staff, 5,593.8 (WTE) Healthcare science staff and 3,322.2 (WTE) Other therapeutic staff (which includes Clinical psychology and counseling, Genetic counselling, Optometry, Pharmacy and Play specialists).
-----------------------------------------------------------------

MAIN CONTACTS:

Bill Ramsay
Information Manager
 0131 275 7568
wramsay@nhs.net

James Mackerrow
Information Analyst
0131 275 6232
james.mackerrow@nhs.net

-----------------------------------------------------------------

GLOSSARY:

HCHS - Hospital, Community and Public Health Services
GDS – General Dental Service

-----------------------------------------------------------------

PRE-RELEASE ACCESS:

Under terms of the "Pre-Release Access to Official Statistics (Scotland) Order 2008", ISD are obliged to publish information on those receiving Pre-Release Access ("Pre-Release Access" refers to statistics in their final form prior to publication). The standard maximum Pre-Release Access is five working days. Shown below are details of those receiving standard Pre-Release Access and, separately, those receiving extended Pre-Release Access.
 
Standard (five day) Pre-Release Access:
Scottish Government Health Department (Analytical Services Division)
NHS Board Chief Executives
NHS Board Communication leads
All NHS Board Workforce planners.
All NHS Board SWISS local contacts.
ISD Workforce Technical Reference Group.
ISD Workforce Steering Group.
 
Extended Pre-Release Access:
Scottish Government Health Department (Analytical Services Division)
This extended Pre-Release Access is given to a small number of named individuals in the Scottish Government Health Department (Analytical Services Division). This Pre-Release Access is for the sole purpose of enabling that department to gain an understanding of the statistics prior to briefing others in Scottish Government (during the period of standard Pre-Release Access).
 
 
-----------------------------------------------------------------

HISTORY OF THIS PUBLICATION:

Last Published: 30 June 2009
Next Due: June 2010 (full release annually in December.  Selected information on a 6 monthly basis).
Data Available Since: Paper publication since 1970s, web publications since 1996

 


Main contact: Email Bill Ramsay