Health staff total falls by 6,500

Oct 23 2012

The number of nurses, midwives and health visiting staff has fallen by more than 6,500 since the coalition took power, figures show.

Since May 2010 the number of qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff employed by the NHS has fallen by 6,588, according to data from the Health And Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC).

Between June and July this year 808 posts were lost, according to the HSCIC's workforce statistics for England.

Jamie Reed, Labour's shadow health minister, said: "What greater sign could there be of a Government that has got its priorities wrong - giving tax breaks to millionaires and P45s to nurses?

"David Cameron needs to stand up for the right people - patients and staff deserve to be put first. He must stop this assault on the NHS frontline."