Anaesthetic Workforce Census 2025 – Numbers, shortfalls and consequences for the NHS report

The RCoA's Numbers, Shortfalls and Consequences for the NHS Census report offers a detailed examination of the numbers of anaesthetists in place, quantifies workforce shortfalls, and sets out the consequences for the NHS. 

It also explores bottlenecks in the medical training pathway, and hospitals’ theoretical capacity to accommodate extra anaesthetists in training (AiTs) if sufficient government funding were provided.

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Summary of key findings

  • The total number of anaesthetic staff working in the NHS in 2025 was 19,759, mainly anaesthetists (19,517), and a much smaller number of qualified PAAs (242).
  • The number of consultants in 2025 was 9,858, up from 8,489 in 2020, a 16% increase.
  • The number of SAS doctors in 2025 was 2,182, up from 1,635 in 2020, a 33% increase.
  • Combined, the number of consultants and SAS doctors was 12,040 in 2025, up from 10,124 in 2020, a 19% increase. 

The average number of cases completed by consultant and SAS anaesthetists was 14.1 per week, which translates to an estimated 651 per year.

  • The UK faces a shortage of 2,256 anaesthetist consultants and SAS doctors, 16% below what is needed. This has risen from 1,483 in 2020, a 52% increase.
  • According to clinical leaders, the hospital service with the greatest pressure was elective surgery, with 48% rating levels anaesthetic staffing as poor and 11% as very poor (59% combined). 
  • 88% of clinical leaders reported surgery being postponed due to lack of anaesthetic staff at least sometimes and 43% reported this occurring on a daily or weekly basis.
  • In maternity care, 53% reported that women were sometimes delayed from getting pain relief due to lack of anaesthetists, with 11% reporting this happening on a daily or weekly basis.
  • 19% reported that women in maternity care were sometimes unable to receive pain relief due to lack of anaesthetists, with 3% reporting this happening on a daily or weekly basis.
  • In 2025, across all medical specialities, and all levels of training, approximately 42,000 individual applicants applied for just 13,000 specialty training posts, leaving 29,000 unable to progress.
  • In anaesthesia specifically, in 2025 there were 6,770 applicants for just 539 places at core level – a competition ratio of 12.56 to 1. This has risen from a ratio of 3.61 to 1 in 2021. 
  • Currently there is capacity to take on an extra 526 Core Training (CT) 1-3 level Anaesthetist in Training (AiT) posts. Given that, typically, these posts last three years, this equates to a yearly intake of 175.
  • Currently there is capacity to take on an extra 802 Specialty Training (ST) 4-7+ level AiTs. Given that, typically, these posts last four years, this equates to a yearly intake of 201.