Responding to a new census conducted by the Royal College of Physicians, the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, the deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery said:

"The findings of this census are concerning and are further evidence of the severity of workforce shortages in the health service.

"For some time now, trust leaders have said that workforce shortages, and the resulting unsustainable workloads on existing staff, is their biggest challenge.

"We agree that long term workforce planning must be made a priority by the government and national bodies, and support the amendment proposed by Jeremy Hunt to the Health and Care Bill to help ensure this.

"With rising pressures across the health service, it is crucial that our NHS has the right numbers of staff in the right places to continue to provide safe and effective care."