UK State of the Nation report 2026

The Anaesthetic Workforce: UK State of the Nation Report 2026 provides a comprehensive overview of the anaesthetic workforce, including current workforce numbers, shortfalls, and the consequences for the NHS.

It also sets out the urgent actions that are needed to address these shortfalls and get waiting lists down.    
While anaesthetist numbers have modestly increased since our last UK State of the Nation Report in 2024, the shortfall has increased even more. This is due to rising healthcare demand, driven by factors such as the growing and ageing population. As such, the NHS remains in urgent need of more anaesthetists. 

Key findings

• Anaesthetists are vital to addressing NHS waiting lists because most operations cannot take place without them.  
• The number of consultant and SAS anaesthetists in UK the stands at around 12,050.
• However, these numbers are 16% lower than what is needed, with a shortfall of around 2,250 anaesthetists.
• Given the average caseload of an anaesthetist, the shortfall prevents up to 1.5 million extra operations and procedures from taking place per year.
• Currently, 88% of clinical leaders report surgery sometimes being postponed due to a lack of anaesthetists, with 43% reporting this happening on a daily or weekly basis.
• The supply of anaesthetists is constrained by a lack of funded anaesthetic training places, and poor retention of existing staff.
• NHS hospitals across the UK had the capacity to take on around 380 extra training posts per year, including around 180 at core level and around 200 at higher level.
• The solutions involve funding these places and efforts to improve retention.

How we are using this report

Securing an increase in anaesthetic training places, alongside measures to improve retention, remain the College’s top policy priorities. 

We have repeatedly made the case for why these measures are essential to successive governments and NHS leaders, and we will continue to do so.   

This report provides further evidence to strengthen our campaigning work. As the Governments of each of the four nations of the UK develop their health workforce plans, we are seeking to influence at every opportunity. We are also sharing the report with senior NHS (and HSC) figures, and will use it to brief politicians and policy makers.