CORNWALL has seen a significant increase in the number of doctors and nurses working in the NHS, new data shows.

The latest NHS Workforce Statistics show there are 68 more doctors and 187 more nurses in Cornwall compared to last year.

The number of doctors has increased from 732 to 800 – a jump of 9.3%.

The number of nurses, including health visitors, has gone up from 2,149 to 2,336 – a rise of 8.7%.

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (9.3%) and Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (10.8%) have both seen

significant increases in doctors.

It is a similar story with nurses – up 9.9% for Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust and 8.1% for Cornwall Partnership NHS

Foundation Trust.

The number of doctors in the NHS in England has increased by 9,306 compared to last year, while the number of nurses has

risen by 13,840.

All professionally-qualified clinical staff, doctors, paramedics and support to clinical staff are now at record levels.

West Cornwall MP Derek Thomas said:

"This is very welcome news and shows that the government's NHS People Plan is paying off in terms of strengthening and improving our NHS services.

"Last year saw the opening of the Cornwall Health and Social Care Academy, set up to train Cornish people to work in health and social care services, and, with Truro and Penwith College, I was very

happy to help organise an NHS+ jobs fair which showcased more than 300 career opportunities in the NHS and in social care.

"It is excellent that we are getting an uplift in the numbers of doctors and nurses working here in Cornwall and I hope to see this reflected in the numbers of people working in social care as well."

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