The Department does not collect centrally information on how many nurses, midwives or doctors were working in the national health service three years after they qualified in each year since 1997.
The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) destination of leavers survey asks United Kingdom and European Union-based graduates about their employment circumstances six months after graduation.
The percentage of newly-qualified nurses and midwives (combined) and doctors between 2003 and 2006 inclusive who found employment in their chosen profession six months after graduation is shown in the following tables.
Number (headcount) and percentage 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 Academic year of graduation Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Number of survey respondents1 9,210 — 10,309 — 10,066 — 11,427 — Of which: Employed as a nurse or midwife 8,391 91.1 9,443 91.6 9,202 91.4 9,974 87.3 Employed in other healthcare-related profession 102 1.1 122 1.2 131 1.3 225 2.0 Employed elsewhere 151 1.6 141 1.4 127 1.3 260 2.3 Unemployed 418 4.5 453 4.4 453 4.5 770 6.7 Unknown 148 1.6 150 1.5 153 1.5 198 1.7 1 The survey response rates for nursing and midwifery graduates were as follows: 2002-03: 72 per cent., 2003-04: 74 per cent., 2004-05: 74 per cent., 2005-06: 76 per cent. Note: HESA Destination of Leavers Survey asks UK- and EU-based graduates about their employment circumstances approximately six months after graduation. Sources: HESA Destination of Leavers from Higher Education Survey The Information Centre for health and social care Student Database
2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 Academic year of graduation Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Number of survey respondents1 3,118 — 3,398 — 3,544 — 4,135 — of which: Employed as a doctor 2,855 91.6 3,152 92.8% 3,214 90.7 3,743 90.5 Employed in other healthcare-related profession 3 0.1 5 0.1 7 0.2 12 0.3 Employed elsewhere 12 0.4 13 0.4 17 0.5 15 0.4 Unemployed 234 7.5 219 6.4 284 8.0 309 7.5 Unknown 14 0.4 9 0.3 22 0.6 56 1.4 1 The survey response rates for graduates in medicine were as follows: 2002-03: 89 per cent., 2003-04: 91 per cent., 2004-05: 89 per cent., 2005-06: 93 per cent. Note The HESA Destination of Leavers Survey asks UK- and EU-based graduates about their employment circumstances approximately six months after graduation. Sources: HESA Destination of Leavers from Higher Education Survey The Information Centre for health and social care Student Database