Written question asked by Baroness Gerada (Crossbench) on Thursday, 12 March 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 26 March 2026. It was answered by Baroness Merron (Labour) on Tuesday, 24 March 2026 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Doctors

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of fully-qualified equivalent NHS doctors employed in England were (1) fully qualified general practitioners, (2) consultants in hospital and community health services, and (3) specialty and associate specialists doctors in hospital and community health services, in each year since 2015.

Answer

The following table shows the full time equivalent (FTE) number of doctors working across general practice, primary care networks, and hospital and community health services in England, and the proportion of these who were fully qualified general practitioners, consultants, or specialty and associate specialist doctors:

	Total doctors employed across general practice, primary care networks, National Health Service provider trusts and other core organisations	Percentage of total which are general practitioners	Percentage of total which are consultants	Percentage of total which are specialty and associate specialist doctors
September 2015	138,890	21%	31%	6%
September 2016	141,337	21%	31%	6%
September 2017	143,639	20%	32%	6%
September 2018	145,615	20%	32%	6%
September 2019	150,808	19%	32%	6%
September 2020	157,550	18%	32%	6%
September 2021	163,814	17%	32%	6%
September 2022	168,331	16%	32%	6%
September 2023	176,084	16%	32%	6%
September 2024	184,883	15%	31%	7%
September 2025	192,732	15%	31%	7%

Sources: NHS Workforce Statistics, General Practice Workforce Statistics, and Primary Care Network Workforce Statistics, all published by NHS England.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: HL15482
Session: 2024-26
Subjects: Doctors
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Doctors

Secondary information

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