Below are a number of development plans we are working on within the team. The timelines noted are indicative and are subject to change.
Currently, the main data source of the NHS Workforce data is SWISS, which is fed by ePayroll and eESS. We are working with NSS to get our data directly from eESS.
The data that is fed through to SWISS is a subset of the data from eESS, so getting it directly from eESS will allow us to expand some reporting.
Updates to the analytical pipeline will reduce the time taken in extracting and processing the data. As the source data remains the same, we do not anticipate these changes having a large effect on the numbers reported in our database, and any differences that do arise from this will be improvements in the accuracy and timeliness of the data.
October 2025
We are in the final stages of this process. We have completed the testing of the data pipeline and hope to switch this over in November (for October Data). We will then go through a process of quality assuring the subset of the data we use to produce our dashboard with the boards, using the same process we have previously done with the SWISS data. From the checks we have done so far on the data, we do not foresee any significant issues being found during this. All going well, we will use eESS for the December 30th census publication, due for publication in March.
Estimated time frame December 2025 census point, due for publication in March 2026
To better inform our users about our current and future work we are in the process of developing a quarterly newsletter to update people on what data has been released and is planned for release.
Estimated time frame December 2025
There are an increasing number of medical grades contained within the Other/Other Grade category within our official statistics.
This grouping contains a range of grades, including OOH GPs, GPs working in practices run by NHS Boards, Clinical Fellows and other locally employed doctor grades.
Whilst we rebuild our analytical pipeline using eESS data we will look at what grades are being grouped into this category and create new groupings.
We will also examine ways to reduce the number of doctors reported where there is an unknown Specialty.
Estimated time frame December 2025 census point, due for publication in March 2026
There is no single source of data for the mental health and wellbeing workforce in Scotland.
To better support evidence-based workforce planning, NES Psychology and Data group colleagues are working with colleagues across NES directorates and NHS Boards to investigate how to improve mental health workforce data with the aim of producing a national mental health workforce report.
Work began in March 2025 and we are taking a phased approach, with phase one exploring which NHSScotland staff to include in a report, how to identify them in workforce data, and how we might address any remaining data gaps and challenges.
Estimated time frame August 2026
The publication of the number of Clinical Nurse specialists was paused following significant data quality concerns.
Following the publication of the Review into Clinical Nurse Specialist Roles review, the NES Data group are working with colleagues in the NES Nursing, Midwifery and AHP directorate, and NHS Boards to review the specialisms that would accurately describe the CNS workforce. This work has involved conducting a census of roles currently being undertaken.
This work has allowed a list of Specialties and Sub Specialties to be created, and work is underway to first add this to the eESS HR system. Once the updates to the HR system have been completed, and NHS Boards have had the time to update their staff, we will recommence the publishing of the numbers of CNS's.
Estimated time frame: 31 March 2025 census date (due for publication in June 2026)
The nationally held Public Health Workforce data is not granular enough to provide an evidence base to support workforce planning.
As a first step in the process of improving this data, the Data Group are working with The Scottish Public Health Workforce Planning and Development Group to run a Public Health Census which will be sent to the territorial boards. This will gather more detailed information on the roles and occupations of the public health workforce.
We currently report on vacancies for Nursing and midwifery staff, Doctors and Dental consultants, and Allied Health Professionals via an excel based return, based on an agreed definition of a vacancy.
We are looking to develop additional reporting based on the vacancy activity that is posted on the NHSScotland Jobs website. This will allow us to expand our reporting across a wider range of professions and grades and add to the currently available data on vacancy and recruitment activity.
Estimated Time frame: Summer 2026
We are investigating the use of a new set of financial codes that will allow us to expand our current reporting on the use of agency data. This data may allow us to report on the grade of the agency doctors and to report on the use of agency Allied Health Professionals.
We are also considering the current publication timetable for these statistics. Over the last few years the processing and quality assurance processes have delayed internal publication deadlines. We are working with data providers, NHS National Services Scotland, to understand internal processes, and will be in touch with key stakeholders to understand the importance of timeliness and punctuality of these data.
Estimated Time frame: June 2026 (based on the year ending 31 March 2026)
We have recently incorporated the General Practitioner headcount data into our NHS Scotland Official Statistics.
As part of the developments we would like to do is to produce numbers of joiners and leavers into these workforces, to match some of the statistics we do for the NHS Scotland workforce
Estimated time frame June 2025