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Nursing near you: East Midlands

Understanding key data

Welcome to the East Midlands

The East Midlands is the fourth-largest English region by area, stretching from Northamptonshire in the south to Nottinghamshire further north.

Most East Midlanders live in urban areas, with about a third residing in rural areas. The region has a growing and aging population.

This page was last updated in April 2024. We will update this page next in October 2024.

Northampton Town Hall on a bright day

Key statistics for this region

Population health 

  • This region has a population of 5,158,060 
  • On average, 52.7% of cancers were diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 in 2021 (9,731 individual cases) 
  • 7,013 deaths among people aged under 75 were from preventable causes (169.8 deaths per 100,000 people) 
  • 40,089 people aged under 65 were diagnosed with dementia in 2023. The estimated dementia diagnosis rate for people aged under 65 is 67.3%.
  • Between 2021 and 2022, 223,342 children under the age of 16 came from low-income families (27.1%) 
  • 12,100 children aged 10 and 11 in school year 6 are obese (23.3%) 
  • Between 2019 and 2021, 607 children died before their first birthday (4.6 infants per 1,000) 
  • Between 2018 and 2023, 349,696 eligible people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check (24.9%) 
  • 18,865 emergency hospital admissions were due to falls in people aged 65 and over (2,063 emergency hospital admissions per 100,000) 
  • Between 2020 and 2021, 1,050 additional deaths occurred in winter compared with other times of the year. Between August 2020 and July 2021, 6.7% of deaths were excess winter deaths. 

Life expectancy 

  • The life expectancy at birth for males is 78.5 years
  • The life expectancy at birth for females is 82.4 years 
  • The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for males is 61.4 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities. 
  • The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for females is 61.2 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities. 

Workforce planning 

  • There are 19,010 NHS nurses and health visitors in this region
  • As of August 2023, there were 36.9 NHS nurses and health visitors per 10,000 of the regional population
  • As of August 2023, there were 28,449 nurses in Hospital and Community Health Service and GP settings (excluding health visitors)
  • There are 55.2 NHS nurses and GP nurses per 10,000 of the regional population (excluding health visitors) 
  • As of August 2023, there were 26,866 Hospital and Community Health Service Nurses (excluding health visitors)
  • As of August 2023, there were 1,583 nurses working in general practice 
  • As of March 2023, 48,704 fixed-term equivalent days had been lost to workforce sickness
  • As of March 2023, the overall workforce sickness rate was 5.7% 
  • Between January and December 2022, £82,785,545 was spent on agency registered nurses
5,158,060 Population of region
19,010 Full-time equivalent NHS nurses and health visitors

Statistics by local integrated care system (ICS)

Population health 

  • This ICS has a population of 1,111,009 
  • On average, 52.5% of cancers were diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 in 2021 (2,322 individual cases) 
  • 1,641 deaths among people aged under 75 were from preventable causes (177.0 deaths per 100,000 people) 
  • 9,625 people aged under 65 were diagnosed with dementia in 2023. The estimated dementia diagnosis rate for people aged under 65 is 69.3%.
  • Between 2021 and 2022, 47,244 children under the age of 16 came from low-income families (27.9%) 
  • 2,595 children aged 10 and 11 in school year 6 are obese (23.6%) 
  • Between 2019 and 2021, 121 children died before their first birthday (4.6 infants per 1,000) 
  • Between 2018 and 2023, 76,334 eligible people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check (23.6%) 
  • 4,865 emergency hospital admissions were due to falls in people aged 65 and over (2,358 emergency hospital admissions per 100,000) 
  • Between 2020 and 2021, 210 additional deaths occurred in winter compared with other times of the year. Between August 2020 and July 2021, 5.9% of deaths were excess winter deaths. 

Life expectancy 

  • The life expectancy at birth for males is 78.3 years
  • The life expectancy at birth for females is 82.0 years 
  • The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for males is 59.6 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities. 
  • The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for females is 62.1 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities. 

Workforce planning 

  • There are 6,529 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
  • As of August 2023, there were 58.8 NHS nurses and health visitors per 10,000 of the ICS population
  • As of August 2023, there were 6,720 nurses in Hospital and Community Health Service and GP settings (excluding health visitors)
  • There are 60.5 NHS nurses and GP nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population (excluding health visitors) 
  • As of August 2023, there were 6,378 Hospital and Community Health Service Nurses (excluding health visitors)
  • As of August 2023, there were 342 nurses working in general practice 
  • As of March 2023, 12,621 fixed-term equivalent days had been lost to workforce sickness
  • As of March 2023, the overall workforce sickness rate was 6.1% 
  • Between January and December 2022, £8,910,991 was spent on agency registered nurses 

Population health 

  • This ICS has a population of 1,185,265 
  • On average, 51.9% of cancers were diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 in 2021 (1,726 individual cases) 
  • 1,426 deaths among people aged under 75 were from preventable causes (170.6 deaths per 100,000 people) 
  • 7,812 people aged under 65 were diagnosed with dementia in 2023. The estimated dementia diagnosis rate for people aged under 65 is 67.0%.
  • Between 2021 and 2022, 54,320 children under the age of 16 came from low-income families (29.7%) 
  • 2,520 children aged 10 and 11 in school year 6 are obese (21.7%) 
  • Between 2019 and 2021, 155 children died before their first birthday (5.3 infants per 1,000) 
  • Between 2018 and 2023, 101,348 eligible people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check (39.5%) 
  • 3,270 emergency hospital admissions were due to falls in people aged 65 and over (1,747 emergency hospital admissions per 100,000) 
  • Between 2020 and 2021, 230 additional deaths occurred in winter compared with other times of the year. Between August 2020 and July 2021, 5.8% of deaths were excess winter deaths. 

Life expectancy 

  • The life expectancy at birth for males is 78.5 years
  • The life expectancy at birth for females is 82.3 years 
  • The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for males is 61.2 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities. 
  • The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for females is 60.6 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities. 

Workforce planning 

  • There are 5,430 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
  • As of August 2023, there were 45.8 NHS nurses and health visitors per 10,000 of the ICS population
  • As of August 2023, there were 5,609 nurses in Hospital and Community Health Service and GP settings (excluding health visitors)
  • There are 47.3 NHS nurses and GP nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population (excluding health visitors) 
  • As of August 2023, there were 5,325 Hospital and Community Health Service Nurses (excluding health visitors)
  • As of August 2023, there were 284 nurses working in general practice 
  • As of March 2023, 8,746 fixed-term equivalent days had been lost to workforce sickness
  • As of March 2023, the overall workforce sickness rate was 5.1% 
  • Between January and December 2022, £9,950,000 was spent on agency registered nurses

Population health 

  • This ICS has a population of 806,534 
  • On average, 50.0% of cancers were diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 in 2021 (1,834 individual cases) 
  • 1,200 deaths among people aged under 75 were from preventable causes (158.2 deaths per 100,000 people) 
  • 7,468 people aged under 65 were diagnosed with dementia in 2023. The estimated dementia diagnosis rate for people aged under 65 is 63.0%.
  • Between 2021 and 2022, 32,187 children under the age of 16 came from low-income families (25.1%) 
  • 1,840 children aged 10 and 11 in school year 6 are obese (23.2%) 
  • Between 2019 and 2021, 69 children died before their first birthday (3.6 infants per 1,000) 
  • Between 2018 and 2023, 72,307 eligible people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check (31.9%) 
  • 3,085 emergency hospital admissions were due to falls in people aged 65 and over (1,712 emergency hospital admissions per 100,000) 
  • Between 2020 and 2021, 200 additional deaths occurred in winter compared with other times of the year. Between August 2020 and July 2021, 6.8% of deaths were excess winter deaths. 

Life expectancy 

  • The life expectancy at birth for males is 78.7 years
  • The life expectancy at birth for females is 82.7 years 
  • The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for males is 62.5 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities. 
  • The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for females is 60.7 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities. 

Workforce planning 

  • There are 3,212 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
  • As of August 2023, there were 39.8 NHS nurses and health visitors per 10,000 of the ICS population
  • As of August 2023, there were 3,607 nurses in Hospital and Community Health Service and GP settings (excluding health visitors)
  • There are 44.7 NHS nurses and GP nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population (excluding health visitors) 
  • As of August 2023, there were 3,274 Hospital and Community Health Service Nurses (excluding health visitors)
  • As of August 2023, there were 333 nurses working in general practice 
  • As of March 2023, 5,903 fixed-term equivalent days had been lost to workforce sickness
  • As of March 2023, the overall workforce sickness rate was 5.9% 
  • Between January and December 2022, £13,377,568 was spent on agency registered nurses

Population health 

  • This ICS has a population of 814,554 
  • On average, 54.3% of cancers were diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 in 2021 (1,574 individual cases) 
  • 1,071 deaths among people aged under 75 were from preventable causes (157.6 deaths per 100,000 people) 
  • 5,392 people aged under 65 were diagnosed with dementia in 2023. The estimated dementia diagnosis rate for people aged under 65 is 63.2%.
  • Between 2021 and 2022, 31,445 children under the age of 16 came from low-income families (20.7%) 
  • 1,970 children aged 10 and 11 in school year 6 are obese (22.3%) 
  • Between 2019 and 2021, 99 children died before their first birthday (4.2 infants per 1,000) 
  • Between 2018 and 2023, 15,109 eligible people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check (6.8%) 
  • 3,080 emergency hospital admissions were due to falls in people aged 65 and over (2,278 emergency hospital admissions per 100,000) 
  • Between 2020 and 2021, 200 additional deaths occurred in winter compared with other times of the year. Between August 2020 and July 2021, 9.0% of deaths were excess winter deaths. 

Life expectancy 

  • The life expectancy at birth for males is 79.3 years
  • The life expectancy at birth for females is 83.0 years 
  • The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for males is 63.9 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities. 
  • The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for females is 64.3 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities. 

Workforce planning 

  • There are 3,839 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
  • As of August 2023, there were 47.1 NHS nurses and health visitors per 10,000 of the ICS population
  • As of August 2023, there were 4,010 nurses in Hospital and Community Health Service and GP settings (excluding health visitors)
  • There are 49.2 NHS and GP nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population (excluding health visitors) 
  • As of August 2023, there were 3,739 Hospital and Community Health Service Nurses (excluding health visitors)
  • As of August 2023, there were 271 nurses working in general practice 
  • As of March 2023, 7,002 fixed-term equivalent days had been lost to workforce sickness
  • As of March 2023, the overall workforce sickness rate was 5.7% 
  • Between January and December 2022, £13,243,475 was spent on agency registered nurses

Population health 

  • This ICS has a population of 1,240,698 
  • On average, 54.9% of cancers were diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 in 2021 (2,275 individual cases) 
  • 1,675 deaths among people aged under 75 were from preventable causes (185.9 deaths per 100,000 people) 
  • 9,792 people aged under 65 were diagnosed with dementia in 2023. The estimated dementia diagnosis rate for people aged under 65 is 73.9%.
  • Between 2021 and 2022, 58,146 children under the age of 16 came from low-income families (32.1%) 
  • 3,175 children aged 10 and 11 in school year 6 are obese (25.6%) 
  • Between 2019 and 2021, 163 children died before their first birthday (5.1 infants per 1,000) 
  • Between 2018 and 2023, 84,598 eligible people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check (22.7%) 
  • 4,565 emergency hospital admissions were due to falls in people aged 65 and over (2,220 emergency hospital admissions per 100,000) 
  • Between 2020 and 2021, 210 additional deaths occurred in winter compared with other times of the year. Between August 2020 and July 2021, 5.9% of deaths were excess winter deaths. 

Life expectancy 

  • The life expectancy at birth for males is 77.8 years
  • The life expectancy at birth for females is 82.2 years 
  • The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for males is 59.9 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities. 
  • The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for females is 58.5 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities. 

Workforce planning 

  • There are 8,234 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
  • As of August 2023, there were 66.4 NHS nurses and health visitors per 10,000 of the ICS population
  • As of August 2023, there were 8,503 nurses in Hospital and Community Health Service and GP settings (excluding health visitors)
  • There are 68.5 NHS nurses and GP nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population (excluding health visitors) 
  • As of August 2023, there were 8,149 Hospital and Community Health Service Nurses (excluding health visitors)
  • As of August 2023, there were 353 nurses working in general practice 
  • As of March 2023, 14,433 fixed-term equivalent days had been lost to workforce sickness
  • As of March 2023, the overall workforce sickness rate was 5.5% 
  • Between January and December 2022, £37,303,511 was spent on agency registered nurses 

Data sources

The below data comes from several sources, each with different frequencies for updates. WeÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥™ll update the data on this page every 6 months.

Please download our ICS mapping data sources document for a full list.