The number of qualified occupational therapists employed by the national health service in England in each year since 2002 as recorded in the National Workforce Census is shown in the following table:
Headcount FTE 2002 14,749 12,541 2003 15,391 13,053 2004 16,371 13,879 2005 16,743 14,099 20061 16,845 14,292 2007 17,024 14,439 1 More accurate validation in 2006 has resulted 9,858 duplicate records being identified and removed from the non-medical census. (These 9,858 duplicate records, broken down by main staff group, are: 3,370 qualified nurses; 1,818 qualified scientific therapeutic and technical staff; 2,719 support to doctors and nurses; 1,562 NHS infrastructure support; and 389 in other areas.) The impact of duplicates on full-time equivalent has been minimal with the removal of 507. Source: Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census