AQW 45202/22-27


Mr Danny Donnelly
Alliance Party
East Antrim


Tabled Date: 30/04/2026
Answered On Date: 29/05/2026
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail the number of posts being recruited for that are open to recent graduates in (i) nursing; and (ii) allied health professions, broken down by (a) speciality; and (b) Health and Social Care Trust.


Answer:
Information on Health and Social Care (HSC) vacancies actively being recruited by staff group and organisation is published by my Department on a quarterly basis at the link below. The latest information available refers to 31 December 2025. https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/articles/staff-vacancies
A breakdown of registered nursing and allied health profession (AHP) vacancies actively being recruited at 31 December 2025, broken down by HSC Trust, is detailed in the tables below. Vacancies actively being recruited at 31 March 2026 will be published and available at the above link on Tuesday 2nd June 2026.
HSC Registered Nursing Vacancies Actively Being Recruited, at 31 December 2025
Registered Nursing
Belfast
HSCT
Northern HSCT
South Eastern HSCT
Southern HSCT
Western HSCT
Other HSC Orgs
Total
Health Visitors
9
8
6
2
3
0
28
District Nurses
1
2
0
1
2
0
6
Paediatric Nurses
47
4
2
18
10
0
81
Mental Health Nurses
89
16
21
41
38
0
205
Learning Disability Nurses
4
8
3
23
2
0
40
All Other Registered Nurses
293
219
133
71
133
3
852
Total
443
257
165
156
188
3
1,212
Source: Information & Analysis Directorate, DoH
HSC Allied Health Profession Vacancies Actively Being Recruited, at 31 December 2025
Allied Health Professions
Belfast
HSCT
Northern HSCT
South Eastern HSCT
Southern HSCT
Western HSCT
Other HSC Orgs
Total
Physiotherapists
36
13
22
17
20
0
108
Occupational Therapists
31
24
26
15
20
0
116
Speech & Language Therapists
14
4
9
12
3
0
42
Podiatrists
8
2
3
3
4
0
20
Dietitians
3
5
3
2
5
0
18
Orthoptists
1
0
0
1
1
0
3
Radiographers
21
13
6
10
8
1
59
Paramedics
0
0
0
0
0
11
11
Total
114
61
69
60
61
12
377
Source: Information & Analysis Directorate, DoH
Graduate specific vacancies cannot be explicitly identified, however, new graduates would ordinarily commence employment at Band 5. A breakdown of registered nursing and AHP band 5 vacancies actively being recruited at 31 December 2025, broken down by HSC Trust, is detailed in the tables below.
HSC Registered Nursing Band 5 Vacancies Actively Being Recruited, at 31 December 2025
Registered Nursing
Belfast
HSCT
Northern HSCT
South Eastern HSCT
Southern HSCT
Western HSCT
Other HSC Orgs
Total
Health Visitors
1
3
1
0
0
0
5
District Nurses
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Paediatric Nurses
38
3
1
13
7
0
62
Mental Health Nurses
66
14
12
21
27
0
140
Learning Disability Nurses
4
3
1
13
1
0
22
All Other Registered Nurses
202
179
103
41
84
1
610
Total
311
202
118
88
119
1
839
Source: Information & Analysis Directorate, DoH
HSC Allied Health Profession Band 5 Vacancies Actively Being Recruited, at 31 December 2025
Allied Health Professions
Belfast
HSCT
Northern HSCT
South Eastern HSCT
Southern HSCT
Western HSCT
Other HSC Orgs
Total
Physiotherapists
13
0
8
1
5
0
27
Occupational Therapists
6
10
15
1
8
0
40
Speech & Language Therapists
2
0
2
1
1
0
6
Podiatrists
5
2
3
2
3
0
15
Dietitians
0
1
0
0
4
0
5
Orthoptists
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Radiographers
5
2
0
2
2
1
12
Paramedics
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
Total
31
15
28
7
23
2
106
Source: Information & Analysis Directorate, DoH