Nursing near you: North west England

Welcome to the north west of England

The north west is the fourth smallest English region by area, running from Cumbria in the north down to Cheshire in the south.

North westerners generally experience lower life expectancy and higher levels of poverty and deprivation compared with other English regions.

This page was last updated in January 2025.

Image of the Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool

Key statistics for this region

Population health

This region has a population of 7,199,502
In 2023/24, there were 30,135 children in Year 6 (aged 10-11) who were classed as obese. This equates to a rate of 37.2, which is worse than the England national average
As of 2024, there were 466,485 dementia diagnoses for those aged under 65. This equates to an estimated rate of 64.8, which is worse than the England national average

In 2022, there were 76,525 deaths among those aged under 75 classed as preventable. This equates to a rate of 155.0 deaths per 100,000 of the regional population, which is similar to the England national average

Life expectancy

The male life expectancy at birth is 77.7 years, which is worse than the England national average
The female life expectancy at birth is 81.7 years, which is worse than the England national average

Workforce planning

There are 56,366 NHS nurses and health visitors in this region
As of December 2024, there were 782.9 NHS nurses and health visitors per 100,000 of the regional population
As of December 2024, there were 2,154 nurses working in general practice. This is equal to 3.0 nurses per 10,000 of the regional population
As of November 2024, there were 7,817 community service nurses. This is equal to 108.6 nurses per 100,000 of the regional population
As of November 2024, there were 1,099 district nurses. This is equal to 15.3 nurses per 100,000 of the regional population
As of October 2024, 119,371 full-time equivalent days had been lost to work sickness among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to a workforce sickness rate of 6.7%
As of October 2024, 34,689 full-time equivalent days were specifically lost to mental health issues (such as stress and anxiety) among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to 29.1% of all workforce sickness absence days

7,199,502 Population of region

56,366 Full-time equivalent NHS nurses and health visitors

Statistics by local integrated care system (ICS)

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside

Population health

This ICS has a population of 2,550,353
In 2023/24, there were 10,050 children in Year 6 (aged 10-11) who were classed as obese. This equates to a rate of 37.5, which is worse than the England national average
Between 2018/19 to 2023/24, 187,839 people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check. This equates to a proportion of 26.0 of those eligible, which is worse than the England national average
As of 2024, there were 22,856 dementia diagnoses for those aged under 65. This equates to an estimated rate of 67.0, which is similar to the England national average
In 2022, there were 4,392 deaths among those aged under 75 classed as preventable. This equates to a rate of 187.7 deaths per 100,000 of the ICS population, which is worse than the England national average

Life expectancy

The male life expectancy at birth is 78.1 years, which is worse than the England national average
The female life expectancy at birth is 82.0 years, which is worse than the England national average

Workforce planning

There are 21,180 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of December 2024, there were 830.5 NHS nurses and health visitors per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of December 2024, there were 797 nurses working in general practice. This is equal to 3.1 nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 3,198 community service nurses. This is equal to 125.4 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 542 district nurses. This is equal to 21.3 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of October 2024, 45,205 full-time equivalent days had been lost to work sickness among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to a workforce sickness rate of 6.7%
As of October 2024, 14,093 full-time equivalent days were specifically lost to mental health issues (such as stress and anxiety) among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to 31.2% of all workforce sickness absence days

NHS Greater Manchester

Population health

This ICS has a population of 2,910,993
In 2023/24, there were 13,195 children in Year 6 (aged 10-11) who were classed as obese. This equates to a rate of 37.5, which is worse than the England national average
Between 2018/19 to 2023/24, 280,779 people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check. This equates to a proportion of 37.4 of those eligible, which is better than the England national average
As of 2024, there were 22,051 dementia diagnoses for those aged under 65. This equates to an estimated rate of 73.4, which is better than the England national average
In 2022, there were 4,926 deaths among those aged under 75 classed as preventable. This equates to a rate of 213.5 deaths per 100,000 of the ICS population, which is worse than the England national average

Life expectancy

The male life expectancy at birth is 77.1 years, which is worse than the England national average
The female life expectancy at birth is 81.2 years, which is worse than the England national average

Workforce planning

There are 23,541 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of December 2024, there were 808.7 NHS nurses and health visitors per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of December 2024, there were 730 nurses working in general practice. This is equal to 2.5 nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 2,718 community service nurses. This is equal to 93.4 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 387 district nurses. This is equal to 13.3 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of October 2024, 49,558 full-time equivalent days had been lost to work sickness among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to a workforce sickness rate of 6.6%
As of October 2024, 13,426 full-time equivalent days were specifically lost to mental health issues (such as stress and anxiety) among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to 27.1% of all workforce sickness absence days

NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria

Population health

This ICS has a population of 1,738,156
In 2023/24, there were 6,890 children in Year 6 (aged 10-11) who were classed as obese. This equates to a rate of 36.5, which is similar to the England national average
Between 2018/19 to 2023/24, 177,459 people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check. This equates to a proportion of 36.4 of those eligible, which is better than the England national average
As of 2024, there were 15,993 dementia diagnoses for those aged under 65. This equates to an estimated rate of 68.3, which is similar to the England national average
In 2022, there were 3,080 deaths among those aged under 75 classed as preventable. This equates to a rate of 192.6 deaths per 100,000 of the ICS population, which is worse than the England national average

Life expectancy

The male life expectancy at birth is 77.7 years, which is worse than the England national average
The female life expectancy at birth is 81.8 years, which is worse than the England national average

Workforce planning

There are 11,644 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of December 2024, there were 669.9 NHS nurses and health visitors per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of December 2024, there were 627 nurses working in general practice. This is equal to 3.6 nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 1,901 community service nurses. This is equal to 109.4 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 169 district nurses. This is equal to 9.7 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of October 2024, 24,607 full-time equivalent days had been lost to work sickness among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to a workforce sickness rate of 6.7%
As of October 2024, 7,170 full-time equivalent days were specifically lost to mental health issues (such as stress and anxiety) among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to 29.1% of all workforce sickness absence days