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<p>The National Health Service employs record numbers of staff, in 2018 - over 1.2
million or 1,074,209 full time equivalents. This is an increase of 63,100 since May
2010, with more staff than at any other time in its 70 year history and significant
growth in newly qualified staff over the period from 2010. As at 30 September 2018,
there were almost 103,000 healthcare vacancies in the NHS, which are largely filled
by agency and bank staff.</p><p> </p><p>In 2018 we committed to:</p><p>- increasing
NHS funding by an average of 3.4% per year, meaning that by 2023/24 the NHS will receive
£20.5 billion a year more than it currently does;</p><p>- giving around one million
NHS staff a well-deserved pay rise, with all staff receiving at least a 3% pay increase
by the end of 2018/2019;</p><p>- increasing the number of training places for doctors,
nurses and midwives, with more general practitioners than ever starting training in
the NHS this year; and</p><p>- we are delivering an additional 1,500 undergraduate
medical places, including an additional 90 places at Hull York Medical School and
as part of the expansion opening five new medical schools across England.</p><p> </p><p>The
NHS Long Term Plan, published on 7 January 2019, sets out a vital strategic framework
to ensure that over the next 10 years the NHS will have the staff it needs so that
nurses and doctors have the time they need to care, working in a supportive culture
that allows them to provide the expert compassionate care they are committed providing.</p><p>
</p><p>My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has commissioned
Baroness Dido Harding, working closely with Sir David Behan, to lead a number of programmes
to engage with key NHS interests to develop a detailed workforce implementation plan.
These programmes will consider detailed proposals to grow the workforce rapidly, including
consideration of additional staff and skills required, build a supportive working
culture in the NHS and ensure first rate leadership for NHS staff.</p>
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