Official figures from NHS Digital reveal that the number of unfilled posts across NHS England has risen to 110,192, representing 8.3% of the total workforce. This includes 39,652 nursing vacancies (10.3% of nursing posts) and 8,158 doctor vacancies (5.8% of doctor posts). The latest quarterly data for October to December 2021 marks the highest total since April-June 2019 and the third worst since records began in 2018.
Health leaders warn that the shortages will exacerbate delays, hinder efforts to reduce the 6.1 million treatment backlog, and compromise patient care. Patricia Marquis, director for England at the Royal College of Nursing, said: 'With every job that remains unfilled, safe patient care becomes even harder to maintain.' The Royal College of Anaesthetists noted that a shortfall of 1,400 anaesthetists directly results in about one million fewer critical operations annually.
Regional disparities are stark: London has the highest nurse vacancy rate at 13%, followed by the south-east (11.3%) and the Midlands (11%). Mental health nursing is particularly affected, with one in six posts vacant nationally, rising to over 20% in the east of England. Doctor shortages are worst in the Midlands, where one in 11 posts are unfilled.
Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting blamed the government's scrapping of the nursing bursary and lack of a workforce plan. The government has promised a 15-year workforce strategy by the end of the month, but critics remain sceptical. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson highlighted recent increases in doctor and nurse numbers and investment in workforce growth.
