Nigel Evans has welcomed the news that an additional 8,546 nurses are now working in the North West since September 2019 with over 51,000 extra nurses working nationally.
Data published today by NHS England shows there were 51,245 additional nurses in September 2023 compared to 2019. This means the number of nurses have increased from 300,904 in 2019 to over 352,000.
Nigel Evans said:
“Nurses play an essential role in our health service, so it is very welcome to see such a considerable increase in numbers, particularly here in the North West.
“I know The National Health Service is the number one priority for a great number of my constituents, myself included. Building off the back of COVID it is clear that a great deal of progress needs to be made and this is exactly the type of headway which is needed to make long term improvements. I hope to see many of these new nurses working in our local hospitals in Preston and Chorley soon.”
This is the largest ever sustained growth in the NHS nursing workforce, with the expanded workforce delivering hundreds of thousands of extra appointments, helping to tackle waiting lists and improve access for patients.
By improving culture, leadership, and wellbeing, the Government is aiming to ensure up to 130,000 fewer staff leave the NHS over the next 15 years. For example, the NHS and Government will improve flexible opportunities for prospective retirees to keep them in the NHS workforce for longer; and make it easier for those who have already left to come back in flexible, contracted roles or as a temp.
Taken together, these recruitment and retention measures will mean the health service has at least an extra 170,000 more nurses in place by 2036/37.