Workforce: Analysing trends and policy issues for the future health workforce

Charlotte Dargie looks at the system for planning the number of medical and nursing staff in the UK.

Briefing

Published: 01/12/1999

Download the report [PDF 212.7KB]

Charlotte Dargie looks at the system for planning the number of medical and nursing staff in the UK and also examines future pressures such as the ageing population and the internationalisation of both health services and health workers. Part of the Policy futures for UK health - Pathfinder Technical Series.

The significance of future issues concerning those who work in health cannot be overestimated. Approximately one million people work in the NHS, which accounts for roughly one in 20 of the United Kingdom's (UK) working population. They account for approximately 70 percent of the NHS budget.

The health workforce is undergoing significant change in the work that it does, how that work is organised, and who is doing it. These factors are explored in this paper - covering both a 'macro' perspective of the workforce, and changes in the microeconomic experience of individual health workers.

Suggested citation

Dargie C (1999) Workforce. Analysing trends and policy issues for the future health workforce. Briefing. Policy futures for UK health - Pathfinder Technical Series No 8. Nuffield Trust.

Comments