Request

I am writing to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

NHS Jobs is administered by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA).

I am requesting the following aggregate data relating to medical and dental job advertisements posted on NHS Jobs:

1. The total number of medical and dental job adverts posted on NHS Jobs in each of the following financial years: 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24, and 2024/25.

2. For each of those years, a breakdown of adverts by the length of the advertising window (i.e. the number of days between the date the advert was posted and the stated closing date) and the exact advertising window as some are closed prior to the initial stated date, grouped into the following bands:

a) 0 days (closed same day as posted) b) 1-3 days c) 4-7 days d) 8-14 days e) 15-28 days f) More than 28 days

3. If possible, please provide the above breakdown for medical and dental adverts specifically (as distinct from nursing, allied health, or administrative posts).

4. Please provide the name of any minimum advertising duration standard or policy that NHSBSA or NHS England applies to posts listed on NHS Jobs, if any such standard exists.

I do not require any personal data, individual post details, or trust-identifiable information — aggregate figures are sufficient.

Response

Question 1, Question 2 and Question 3

I can confirm that the NHSBSA holds the information you have requested and a copy of the information is attached.

Search terms

• Total number of medical and dental job adverts published on NHS Jobs in each of the following financial years: 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25.

• For each of those years, a breakdown of adverts by the exact length of the advertising window, based on the bands requested.

• Breakdown for medical and dental adverts by ‘Area of Work’ to distinguish job roles.

The information provided is limited to what the recruiting organisation supplies us with. For more detail on each position you may wish to write to each trust directly. A directory of trusts and ICBs (including the ones provided in the data) can be found at the below web link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-provider-directory/

Question 4

The minimum advertising duration standard or policy that NHSBSA or NHS England applies to posts listed on NHS Jobs:

NHS England (NHSE):

NHSE has a clearly defined minimum advertising duration:

Standard vacancies: Minimum of 10 working days

Applies to both internal and external NHSE vacancies.

Early closure is not permitted on first advert unless the advert has already run internally for 10 days and later converted to external.

Restricted vacancies (hidden links): 1 working day

Source: NHSE FAQ on vacancy advertising duration https://faq-hrss.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/knowledgebase/article/KA-23702/en-us

NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA):

NHSBSA operates slightly different minimum durations depending on vacancy type:

External vacancies: 10 working days

Internal vacancies: 5 working days

Hidden link vacancies: 1 working day

These durations are part of NHSBSA’s HR Shared Services recruitment guidance.

Source: NHSBSA advertising duration guidance https://faq.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/knowledgebase/article/KA-23529/en-us

Data Queries

Please contact foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk ensuring you quote the above reference if you have any specific questions regarding this response; or, if you feel you may be misunderstanding or misinterpreting the information; or, if you plan on publishing the data.

Reusing the data and copyright

If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data please contact communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented.

The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and is subject to NHSBSA copyright. This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence detailed at:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Should you wish to re-use the information you must include the following statement: “NHS Jobs, NHSBSA Copyright 2026” Failure to do so is a breach of the terms of the licence.

Information you receive which is not subject to NHSBSA Copyright continues to be protected by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. Please obtain their permission before reproducing any third party (non NHSBSA Copyright) information.