The latest assessment was made in 2008. These estimates suggested that the employment of qualified nurses (including midwives, heath visiting staff and general practitioner practice nurses) would increase from 322,182 (in full-time equivalents (FTEs)) in September 2007 to approximately 327,000 FTEs in 2008-09, 329,000 FTEs in 2009-10 and 334,500 FTEs in 2010-11. This would be a growth of almost 4 per cent. over three years.
These are broad projections made for central purposes and are subject to local work force planning decisions and local factors including skill mix, productivity and affordability.