There are now more doctors and nurses working in the NHS than ever before, John Hutton has said.

The health minister welcomed the latest figures on health service staffing, saying government targets were being met.

There was an increase of 529 GPs in the three months to March and an increase of 2,660 since September 1999.

And there was an estimated increase of qualified nurses by 10,000 in the six months between September 2003 and March 2004.

Consultant numbers were also up by 959 in the quarter to March, an increase of 6,855 since September 1999.

"We expect the consultant target of 7,500 will be met later this year," said the Department of Health.

Hutton said the government was "shaping a NHS workforce fit for the future".

"Recruitment and retention measures are working and increased investment in training is succeeding too," he said.

"I am delighted that we have met NHS Plan targets for the numbers of nurses, therapists and other key professional staff in training.

"We haven't achieved the consultant target yet - but there are well over 6,000 more consultants than in 1999 and we expect to meet our target later this year.

"All of these developments contribute to a big overall improvement in the NHS. Increased funding, more staff, new ways of working, shorter waiting times and reductions in deaths from heart disease and cancer.

"We are meeting these challenges head on  - but I know there is more work to do."