The Nursing and Midwifery Council register reached 867,935 people, its highest total to date. The register measures people eligible to practise rather than the number currently employed.

The NMC said 293,778 registrants, or 33.8 per cent, were from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds. It said this was the first time the share had passed one third.

Annual growth slowed from 3.3 per cent to 1.7 per cent. First time joiners fell by 21.4 per cent and leavers rose by 5.3 per cent over the period reported by the regulator.

The figures show a growing register alongside a slower rate of growth. They cannot on their own explain where registrants work, how many hours they work or whether employers have enough staff.