Scottish Government: NHS workforce statistics

Responding to NHS workforce statistics published today, Health Secretary Michael Matheson said:

“Our staff are the very heart of our NHS and today’s figures show the number of people working in Scotland’s NHS is at a record high. NHS Scotland continues to have higher staffing per head than England.  We set out our long-term workforce vision in the National Health and Social Care Workforce Strategy, published last year and remain committed to achieving this.

“We want to make careers in Scotland’s NHS attractive and well rewarded. By engaging in good faith with unions to offer pay rises, Scotland was the only part of the UK to avoid NHS strikes and we continue to invest in training. Last month we confirmed 153 training posts for junior doctors to be created across a wide range of medical specialties; the largest annual expansion on record, supported by £42 million over the next four years.

“I would like to thank all of our staff and trainees for their hard work and dedication in helping maintain Scotland’s NHS.”