Mike Hedges AM welcomes Record numbers of front-line staff working in Welsh NHS

Mike Hedges AM welcomes Record numbers of front-line staff working in Welsh NHS

There are now a record number of consultants, nurses, midwives and ambulance service staff employed in the NHS in Wales, new statistics published show.

Mike Hedges AM said…. ‘This is great news for the Welsh Health Service and for patients in the Swansea East area. It is not all about staff numbers, but we know that these are front line staff who are treating patients and not back office staff. It shows the commitment of the Welsh Labour Government to patient care within the Welsh NHS.’

The figures have been welcomed by Health Secretary Vaughan Gething, who said the increase is a clear demonstration of the Welsh Government’s commitment to Wales’ National Health Service.

The statistics show that there are now more than 90,000 people (headcount) employed by the NHS in Wales, up 1,880 (2.1%) since 2016 – a record high.

They also show the total number of full time equivalent (FTE) directly employed NHS staff increased by 1,629 (2.1%) over the last year to 77,917, up from 76,288 in 2016.

The statistics also show:
• The number of FTE hospital consultants was 2,466, up by 97 (4.1%) from 2,369 in 2016 – a record high
• The number of FTE qualified nurses, midwives and health visitors was 22,612, up 134 (0.6%) from 22,479 in 2016 – a record high
• The number of FTE ambulance staff was 2,084, up by 39 (1.9%) from 2,045 in 2016 – a record high
• The number of FTE scientific, therapeutic and technical staff was 12,799 – up by 370 (3.0%) from 12,429 since 2016 – a record high.