Nursing near you: East of England

Welcome to the east of England

Stretching from Hertfordshire in the south to Norfolk in the north, the east of England is the second largest English region by area.

It has seen faster population growth than any other English region in the past 12 years.

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

Key statistics for this region

Population health

This region has a population of 7,082,155
On average, 54.9% of cancers were diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 in 2021 (20,473 individual cases)
10,631 deaths among people aged under 75 were from preventable causes (144.6 deaths per 100,000 people)
73,299 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, 235,448 children under the age of 16 came from low-income families (16.5%)
20,345 children aged 10 and 11 in school year 6 are obese (21.7%)
Between 2019 and 2021, 834 children died before their first birthday (3.6 infants per 1,000)
Between 2018 and 2023, 879,628 eligible people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check (32.0%)
37,340 emergency hospital admissions were due to falls in people aged 65 and over (2,028 emergency hospital admissions per 100,000)
Between 2020 and 2021, 1,630 additional deaths occurred in winter compared with other times of the year. Between August 2020 and July 2021, 7.8% of deaths were excess winter deaths.

Life expectancy

The life expectancy at birth for males is 79.7 years
The life expectancy at birth for females is 83.3 years
The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for males is 63.4 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 64.2 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities.

Workforce planning

There are 31,389 NHS nurses and health visitors in this region
As of August 2023, there were 44.3 NHS nurses and health visitors per 10,000 of the regional population
As of August 2023, there were 33,066 nurses in Hospital and Community Health Service and GP settings (excluding health visitors)
There are 46.7 NHS nurses and GP nurses per 10,000 of the regional population (excluding health visitors)
As of August 2023, there were 31,003 Hospital and Community Health Service Nurses (excluding health visitors)
As of August 2023, there were 2,063 nurses working in general practice
As of March 2023, 48,802 fixed-term equivalent days had been lost to workforce sickness
As of March 2023, the overall workforce sickness rate was 4.9%
Between January and December 2022, £68,093,991 was spent on agency registered nurses

7,082,155 Population of region

31,389 Full-time equivalent NHS nurses and health visitors

Statistics by local integrated care system (ICS)

NHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes

Population health

This ICS has a population of 1,070,212
On average, 56.5% of cancers were diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 in 2021 (834 individual cases)
638 deaths among people aged under 75 were from preventable causes (169.1 deaths per 100,000 people)
3,367 people aged under 65 were diagnosed with dementia in 2023. The estimated dementia diagnosis rate for people aged under 65 is 71.0%.
Between 2021 and 2022, 26,954 children under the age of 16 came from low-income families (23.9%)
1,835 children aged 10 and 11 in school year 6 are obese (25.9%)
Between 2019 and 2021, 98 children died before their first birthday (5.3 infants per 1,000)
Between 2018 and 2023, 39,123 eligible people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check (30.2%)
1,460 emergency hospital admissions were due to falls in people aged 65 and over (2,295 emergency hospital admissions per 100,000)
Between 2020 and 2021, 90 additional deaths occurred in winter compared with other times of the year. Between August 2020 and July 2021, 8.5% of deaths were excess winter deaths.

Life expectancy

The life expectancy at birth for males is 79.0 years
The life expectancy at birth for females is 81.8 years
The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for males is 60.6 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 62.6 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities.

Workforce planning

There are 3,015 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of July 2023, there were 28.2 NHS nurses and health visitors per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of August 2023, there were 3,308 nurses in Hospital and Community Health Service and GP settings (excluding health visitors)
There are 30.9 NHS nurses and GP nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population (excluding health visitors)
As of August 2023, there were 3,038 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, 4,617 fixed-term equivalent days had been lost to workforce sickness
As of March 2023, the overall workforce sickness rate was 4.8%
Between January and December 2022, £6,058,300 was spent on agency registered nurses

NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

Population health

This ICS has a population of 1,008,472
On average, 55.2% of cancers were diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 in 2021 (1,972 individual cases)
1,087 deaths among people aged under 75 were from preventable causes (163.9 deaths per 100,000 people)
5,640 people aged under 65 were diagnosed with dementia in 2023. The estimated dementia diagnosis rate for people aged under 65 is 58.9%.
Between 2021 and 2022, 25,692 children under the age of 16 came from low-income families (18.2%)
2,005 children aged 10 and 11 in school year 6 are obese (21.5%)
Between 2019 and 2021, 96 children died before their first birthday (4.0 infants per 1,000)
Between 2018 and 2023, 67,750 eligible people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check (27.8%)
3,225 emergency hospital admissions were due to falls in people aged 65 and over (1,946 emergency hospital admissions per 100,000)
Between 2020 and 2021, 140 additional deaths occurred in winter compared with other times of the year. Between August 2020 and July 2021, 7.1% of deaths were excess winter deaths.

Life expectancy

The life expectancy at birth for males is 79.4 years
The life expectancy at birth for females is 82.5 years
The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for males is 63.0 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 63.4 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities.

Workforce planning

There are 7,523 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of August 2023, there were 74.6 NHS nurses and health visitors per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of August 2023, there were 7,603 nurses in Hospital and Community Health Service and GP settings (excluding health visitors)
There are 75.4 NHS nurses and GP nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population (excluding health visitors)
As of August 2023, there were 7,230 Hospital and Community Health Service Nurses (excluding health visitors)
As of August 2023, there were 373 nurses working in general practice
As of March 2023, 11,722 fixed-term equivalent days had been lost to workforce sickness
As of March 2023, the overall workforce sickness rate was 4.9%
Between January and December 2022, £10,547,618 was spent on agency registered nurses

NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex

Population health

This ICS has a population of 1,612,064
On average, 55.9% of cancers were diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 in 2021 (5,816 individual cases)
2,951 deaths among people aged under 75 were from preventable causes (124.1 deaths per 100,000 people)
21,325 people aged under 65 were diagnosed with dementia in 2023. The estimated dementia diagnosis rate for people aged under 65 is 61.3%.
Between 2021 and 2022, 59,722 children under the age of 16 came from low-income families (11.4%)
5,785 children aged 10 and 11 in school year 6 are obese (19.1%)
Between 2019 and 2021, 239 children died before their first birthday (2.9 infants per 1,000)
Between 2018 and 2023, 260,280 eligible people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check (32.5%)
11,500 emergency hospital admissions were due to falls in people aged 65 and over (2,134 emergency hospital admissions per 100,000)
Between 2020 and 2021, 350 additional deaths occurred in winter compared with other times of the year. Between August 2020 and July 2021, 4.5% of deaths were excess winter deaths.

Life expectancy

The life expectancy at birth for males is 80.6 years
The life expectancy at birth for females is 84.4 years
The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for males is 64.2 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 66.1 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities.

Workforce planning

There are 5,388 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of August 2023, there were 33.4 NHS nurses and health visitors per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of August 2023, there were 5,569 nurses in Hospital and Community Health Service and GP settings (excluding health visitors)
There are 34.5 NHS nurses and GP nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population (excluding health visitors)
As of August 2023, there were 5,248 Hospital and Community Health Service Nurses (excluding health visitors)
As of August 2023, there were 321 nurses working in general practice
As of March 2023, 8,988 fixed-term equivalent days had been lost to workforce sickness
As of March 2023, the overall workforce sickness rate was 5.2%
Between January and December 2022, £8,136,563 was spent on agency registered nurses

NHS Mid and South Essex

Population health

This ICS has a population of 1,256,523
On average, 52.2% of cancers were diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 in 2021 (3,732 individual cases)
2,029 deaths among people aged under 75 were from preventable causes (148.2 deaths per 100,000 people)
14,528 people aged under 65 were diagnosed with dementia in 2023. The estimated dementia diagnosis rate for people aged under 65 is 70.2%.
Between 2021 and 2022, 40,926 children under the age of 16 came from low-income families (13.8%)
3,825 children aged 10 and 11 in school year 6 are obese (21.0%)
Between 2019 and 2021, 133 children died before their first birthday (2.6 infants per 1,000)
Between 2018 and 2023, 179,224 eligible people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check (30.9%)
7,565 emergency hospital admissions were due to falls in people aged 65 and over (2,293 emergency hospital admissions per 100,000)
Between 2020 and 2021, 270 additional deaths occurred in winter compared with other times of the year. Between August 2020 and July 2021, 10.2% of deaths were excess winter deaths.

Life expectancy

The life expectancy at birth for males is 79.6 years
The life expectancy at birth for females is 83.7 years
The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for males is 64.0 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 64.0 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities.

Workforce planning

There are 5,638 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of August 2023, there were 44.9 nurses and health visitors per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of August 2023, there were 5,955 nurses in Hospital and Community Health Service and GP settings (excluding health visitors)
There are 47.4 NHS nurses and GP nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population (excluding health visitors)
As of August 2023, there were 5,654 Hospital and Community Health Service Nurses (excluding health visitors)
As of August 2023, there were 301 nurses working in general practice
As of March 2023, 8,111 fixed-term equivalent days had been lost to workforce sickness
As of March 2023, the overall workforce sickness rate was 4.6%
Between January and December 2022, £24,686,024 was spent on agency registered nurses

NHS Norfolk and Waveney

Population health

This ICS has a population of 1,086,462
On average, 54.7% of cancers were diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 in 2021 (2,602 individual cases)
1,224 deaths among people aged under 75 were from preventable causes (134.6 deaths per 100,000 people)
8,630 people aged under 65 were diagnosed with dementia in 2023. The estimated dementia diagnosis rate for people aged under 65 is 58.7%.
Between 2021 and 2022, 25,627 children under the age of 16 came from low-income families (17.2%)
1,915 children aged 10 and 11 in school year 6 are obese (22.0%)
Between 2019 and 2021, 83 children died before their first birthday (3.7 infants per 1,000)
Between 2018 and 2023, 91,495 eligible people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check (34.7%)
3,835 emergency hospital admissions were due to falls in people aged 65 and over (1,637 emergency hospital admissions per 100,000)
Between 2020 and 2021, 370 additional deaths occurred in winter compared with other times of the year. Between August 2020 and July 2021, 10.4% of deaths were excess winter deaths.

Life expectancy

The life expectancy at birth for males is 79.4 years
The life expectancy at birth for females is 83.4 years
The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for males is 62.9 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 63.9 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities.

Workforce planning

There are 5,856 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of August 2023, there were 53.9 NHS nurses and health visitors per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of August 2023, there were 6,313 nurses in Hospital and Community Health Service and GP settings (excluding health visitors)
There are 58.1 NHS nurses and GP nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population (excluding health visitors)
As of August 2023, there were 5,870 Hospital and Community Health Service Nurses (excluding health visitors)
As of August 2023, there were 444 nurses working in general practice
As of March 2023, 9,709 fixed-term equivalent days had been lost to workforce sickness
As of March 2023, the overall workforce sickness rate was 5.2%
Between January and December 2022, £15,504,400 was spent on agency registered nurses

NHS Suffolk and North East Essex

Population health

This ICS has a population of 1,048,423
On average, 55.2% of cancers were diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 in 2021 (5,517 individual cases)
2,702 deaths among people aged under 75 were from preventable causes (127.6 deaths per 100,000 people)
19,809 people aged under 65 were diagnosed with dementia in 2023. The estimated dementia diagnosis rate for people aged under 65 is 59.4%.
Between 2021 and 2022, 56,527 children under the age of 16 came from low-income families (14.3%)
4,980 children aged 10 and 11 in school year 6 are obese (20.6%)
Between 2019 and 2021, 185 children died before their first birthday (2.9 infants per 1,000)
Between 2018 and 2023, 241,756 eligible people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check (35.9%)
9,755 emergency hospital admissions were due to falls in people aged 65 and over (1,860 emergency hospital admissions per 100,000)
Between 2020 and 2021, 410 additional deaths occurred in winter compared with other times of the year. Between August 2020 and July 2021, 6.1% of deaths were excess winter deaths.

Life expectancy

The life expectancy at birth for males is 80.4 years
The life expectancy at birth for females is 83.9 years
The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for males is 65.6 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 65.1 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities.

Workforce planning

There are 3,968 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of August 2023, there were 37.8 NHS nurses and health visitors per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of August 2023, there were 4,317 nurses in Hospital and Community Health Service and GP settings (excluding health visitors)
There are 41.2 NHS nurses and GP nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population (excluding health visitors)
As of August 2023, there were 3,964 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, 5,656 fixed-term equivalent days had been lost to workforce sickness
As of March 2023, the overall workforce sickness rate was 4.5%
Between January and December 2022, £3,161,086 was spent on agency registered nurses