Data from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) shows the register now comprises 778,340 nurses (+1.7% since April), 45,198 midwives (+2.4%), 11,551 nursing associates (+6.2%) and 6,278 dual registrants (-1.3%).
For the first time there are more than 200,000 internationally educated professionals on the register – 23.8% of the total available UK nursing and midwifery workforce. Of these registered professionals, 67,576 were educated in India (+8.3% since April) and 50,180 were educated in the Philippines (+2.2%).
However, 16.6% fewer international professionals joined the register (12,534) and 33% more left (2,573) in the six months to 30 September, than in the same period last year. These 2,573 leavers account for 1.4% of all international professionals on the register, compared to 1.2% who left between April and September 2023.
The total number of professionals – whether UK or internationally educated – who joined the register for the first time between April and September fell by 9.2% to 27,313, compared to 30,085 in the six months to September 2023.
Total leavers rose by 6.3% to 14,142, compared to 13,305 leavers in the six months to September 2023. However, the number of leavers given as a proportion of the growing register is unchanged at 1.7%.
As the total number of leavers increases, so too does the segment of professionals leaving after five years or less on the register: 1,799 in the six months to September, compared to 1,211 in the same period last year. That is an increase of 48.6% for the period but is unchanged when viewed as a proportion of the register (0.2%).
Kuljit Dhillon, NMC interim executive director of strategy and insight, said: 'As we head into another tough winter, we hope there is small comfort in the growth of our register to a record 841,000.
'At the same time, there are notes of caution in our data around international recruitment, which has been a pillar of workforce growth in recent years. We've seen a fall in internationally educated joiners and an even higher proportional rise in leavers, although it's important to view leavers' data through the lens of a growing register.
'We hope our data and insights will support workforce planning and research in the UK, ensuring the most effective delivery of services that people and communities across the country rely on for their health and wellbeing.'
In response, Charles Tallack, director of research and analysis of the Health Foundation, said it is crucial that efforts set out in the Long Term Workforce Plan to boost the domestically trained workforce continue at pace, alongside a renewed focus on retaining staff.
Tallack added: 'Delivering on these ambitions is vital to the long-term sustainability of the NHS and should be at the heart of next year's 10 year health plan.'
Nuffield Trust senior fellow Dr Billy Palmer said the figures are 'ultimately a chronic symptom' of a domestic clinical education system that is 'not fit for purpose'.
Dr Palmer added: 'We have warned the NHS is failing to attract homegrown nurses, with new domestic joiners having previously fallen by more than 6,000 over two years. Now, the heavy reliance on overseas joiners continues, with nearly half of new nursing and midwifery registrants educated outside of the UK.
'Policymakers and educational leaders cannot stay blind to these trends. They need to be bold – considering measures like student loan forgiveness schemes – to ensure UK nursing and midwifery has enough domestically trained, experienced staff to sustain the NHS workforce for the future.'
