The number of qualified speech and language 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 Full-time equivalents 2005 6,759 5,062 20061 6,623 5,149 2007 6,742 5,299 2002 5,960 4,365 2003 6,243 4,707 2004 6,556 4,973 1 More accurate validation in 2006 has resulted in 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: Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census