Nursing near you: West Midlands

Welcome to the West Midlands

Spanning Herefordshire in the west to Warwickshire in the east, the West Midlands is the third smallest English region by area.

It’s home to the second highest ethnically diverse population in England and Wales. Most West Midlanders live in urban areas, with about a fifth residing in rural areas.

This page was last updated in January 2025.

Key statistics for this region

Population health

This region has a population of 6,017,026
In 2023/24, there were 4,463 children in Year 6 (aged 10-11) who were classed as obese. This equates to a rate of 37.6, which is worse than the England national average
As of 2024, there were 8,026 dementia diagnoses for those aged under 65. This equates to an estimated rate of 61.5, which is better than the England national average
In 2022, there were 1,423 deaths among those aged under 75 classed as preventable. This equates to a rate of 163.7 deaths per 100,000 of the regional population, which is worse than the England national average

Life expectancy

The male life expectancy at birth is 78.8 years, which is worse than the England national average
The female life expectancy at birth is 82.7 years, which is worse than the England national average

Workforce planning

There are 38,722 NHS nurses and health visitors in this region
As of December 2024, there were 643.5 NHS nurses and health visitors per 100,000 of the regional population
As of December 2024, there were 1,695 nurses working in general practice. This is equal to 2.8 nurses per 10,000 of the regional population
As of November 2024, there were 4,763 community service nurses. This is equal to 79.2 nurses per 100,000 of the regional population
As of November 2024, there were 583 district nurses. This is equal to 9.7 nurses per 100,000 of the regional population
As of October 2024, 72,380 full-time equivalent days had been lost to work sickness among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to a workforce sickness rate of 6.1%
As of October 2024, 19,222 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 26.6% of all workforce sickness absence days

6,017,026 Population of region

38,722 Full-time equivalent NHS nurses and health visitors

Statistics by local integrated care system (ICS)

NHS Birmingham and Solihull

Population health

This ICS has a population of 1,372,005
In 2023/24, there were 7,075 children in Year 6 (aged 10-11) who were classed as obese. This equates to a rate of 38.8, which is worse than the England national average
Between 2018/19 to 2023/24, 146,791 people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check. This equates to a proportion of 42.1 of those eligible, which is better than the England national average
As of 2024, there were 8,799 dementia diagnoses for those aged under 65. This equates to an estimated rate of 60.9, which is similar to the England national average
In 2022, there were 1,828 deaths among those aged under 75 classed as preventable. This equates to a rate of 184.4 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 82.2 years, which is worse than the England national average

Workforce planning

There are 12,485 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of December 2024, there were 910.0 NHS nurses and health visitors per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of December 2024, there were 314 nurses working in general practice. This is equal to 2.3 nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 1,226 community service nurses. This is equal to 89.4 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 260 district nurses. This is equal to 19.0 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of October 2024, 23,295 full-time equivalent days had been lost to work sickness among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to a workforce sickness rate of 5.9%
As of October 2024, 5,768 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 24.8% of all workforce sickness absence days

NHS Black Country

Population health

This ICS has a population of 1,223,619
In 2023/24, there were 6,725 children in Year 6 (aged 10-11) who were classed as obese. This equates to a rate of 42.5, which is worse than the England national average
Between 2018/19 to 2023/24, 87,502 people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check. This equates to a proportion of 26.7 of those eligible, which is worse than the England national average
As of 2024, there were 9,186 dementia diagnoses for those aged under 65. This equates to an estimated rate of 63.9, which is similar to the England national average
In 2022, there were 1,938 deaths among those aged under 75 classed as preventable. This equates to a rate of 194.7 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 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 6,908 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of December 2024, there were 564.6 NHS nurses and health visitors per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of December 2024, there were 330 nurses working in general practice. This is equal to 2.7 nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 972 community service nurses. This is equal to 79.4 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 90 district nurses. This is equal to 7.4 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of October 2024, 11,591 full-time equivalent days had been lost to work sickness among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to a workforce sickness rate of 6.2%
As of October 2024, 2,857 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 24.6% of all workforce sickness absence days

NHS Coventry and Warwickshire

Population health

This ICS has a population of 960,602
In 2023/24, there were 3,940 children in Year 6 (aged 10-11) who were classed as obese. This equates to a rate of 36.3, which is similar to the England national average
Between 2018/19 to 2023/24, 57,088 people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check. This equates to a proportion of 21.8 of those eligible, which is worse than the England national average
As of 2024, there were 7,062 dementia diagnoses for those aged under 65. This equates to an estimated rate of 57.2, which is worse than the England national average
In 2022, there were 1,271 deaths among those aged under 75 classed as preventable. This equates to a rate of 158.3 deaths per 100,000 of the ICS population, which is similar to the England national average

Life expectancy

The male life expectancy at birth is 79.1 years, which is similar to the England national average
The female life expectancy at birth is 82.8 years, which is similar to the England national average

Workforce planning

There are 5,995 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of December 2024, there were 624.1 NHS nurses and health visitors per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of December 2024, there were 241 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 565 community service nurses. This is equal to 58.8 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 76 district nurses. This is equal to 7.9 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of October 2024, 11,796 full-time equivalent days had been lost to work sickness among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to a workforce sickness rate of 6.3%
As of October 2024, 3,283 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 27.8% of all workforce sickness absence days

NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire

Population health

This ICS has a population of 798,019
In 2023/24, there were 2,710 children in Year 6 (aged 10-11) who were classed as obese. This equates to a rate of 35.0, which is similar to the England national average
Between 2018/19 to 2023/24, 75,854 people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check. This equates to a proportion of 31.9 of those eligible, which is better than the England national average
As of 2024, there were 6,854 dementia diagnoses for those aged under 65. This equates to an estimated rate of 53.8, which is worse than the England national average
In 2022, there were 1,066 deaths among those aged under 75 classed as preventable. This equates to a rate of 134.8 deaths per 100,000 of the ICS population, which is better than the England national average

Life expectancy

The male life expectancy at birth is 80.1 years, which is better than the England national average
The female life expectancy at birth is 83.6 years, which is better than the England national average

Workforce planning

There are 4,340 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of December 2024, there were 543.8 NHS nurses and health visitors per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of December 2024, there were 290 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 615 community service nurses. This is equal to 77.1 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 53 district nurses. This is equal to 6.6 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of October 2024, 8,608 full-time equivalent days had been lost to work sickness among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to a workforce sickness rate of 6.3%
As of October 2024, 2,285 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 26.5% of all workforce sickness absence days

NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin

Population health

This ICS has a population of 516,479
In 2023/24, there were 1,745 children in Year 6 (aged 10-11) who were classed as obese. This equates to a rate of 35.6, which is similar to the England national average
Between 2018/19 to 2023/24, 25,541 people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check. This equates to a proportion of 16.8 of those eligible, which is worse than the England national average
As of 2024, there were 4,735 dementia diagnoses for those aged under 65. This equates to an estimated rate of 60.9, which is similar to the England national average
In 2022, there were 775 deaths among those aged under 75 classed as preventable. This equates to a rate of 154.7 deaths per 100,000 of the ICS population, which is similar to the England national average

Life expectancy

The male life expectancy at birth is 79.1 years, which is similar to the England national average
The female life expectancy at birth is 83.2 years, which is similar to the England national average

Workforce planning

There are 2,777 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of December 2024, there were 537.7 NHS nurses and health visitors per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of December 2024, there were 176 nurses working in general practice. This is equal to 3.4 nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 431 community service nurses. This is equal to 83.4 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 24 district nurses. This is equal to 4.6 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of October 2024, 5,227 full-time equivalent days had been lost to work sickness among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to a workforce sickness rate of 6.0%
As of October 2024, 1,266 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 24.2% of all workforce sickness absence days

NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent

Population health

This ICS has a population of 1,146,302
In 2023/24, there were 4,580 children in Year 6 (aged 10-11) who were classed as obese. This equates to a rate of 37.7, which is worse than the England national average
Between 2018/19 to 2023/24, 36,828 people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check. This equates to a proportion of 11.2 of those eligible, which is worse than the England national average
As of 2024, there were 11,518 dementia diagnoses for those aged under 65. This equates to an estimated rate of 72.4, which is better than the England national average
In 2022, there were 1,662 deaths among those aged under 75 classed as preventable. This equates to a rate of 155.3 deaths per 100,000 of the ICS population, which is similar to the England national average

Life expectancy

The male life expectancy at birth is 79.2 years, which is similar to the England national average
The female life expectancy at birth is 82.7 years, which is worse than the England national average

Workforce planning

There are 6,217 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of December 2024, there were 542.4 NHS nurses and health visitors per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of December 2024, there were 344 nurses working in general practice. This is equal to 3.0 nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 954 community service nurses. This is equal to 83.2 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 80 district nurses. This is equal to 7.0 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of October 2024, 11,862 full-time equivalent days had been lost to work sickness among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to a workforce sickness rate of 6.1%
As of October 2024, 3,763 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 31.7% of all workforce sickness absence days