SOUTH Craven MP Julian Smith has welcomed figures which show an increase in NHS nurses.
He says that as of September, 2023, there were 51,245 additional nurses working in the NHS compared to 2019 – bringing the total number to 352,000. And in the north-east and Yorkshire region, the increase was just over 7,000, or 14 per cent.
Mr Smith says a long-term NHS workforce plan will further boost nursing numbers.
"With £2.4 billion in funding over the next few years the plan will nearly double the number of adult nurse training places for the NHS by 2031," he says.
"And combined measures the Government is taking will see at least an extra 170,000 nurses in place to assist patients by 2036-37.
"The new nurses will be able to assist in providing hundreds of thousands of additional appointments, drive waiting lists down and improve patient access to vital healthcare services.
"It is essential that we continue to provide funding to train new nurses to ensure that people get the healthcare they need.
"I am glad that there is a plan in place to expand the nursing workforce even further and I look forward to seeing the results of these initiatives."
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