From analysis of NHS board workforce plans submitted inApril 2006, the number of qualified nursing and midwifery vacancies at the endof August 2007 is expected to range from 593.6 to 766.6 whole-time equivalent,or 1.5% to 2.0% of the expected establishment in August 2007.For comparison, the vacancy rate as a percentage ofestablishment was 4.5% at the 31 of March 2005 and 3.6% at the 31 of March2006.