Figures released by the Nursing and Midwifery Council show some 65,755 men were registered with the organisation to the end of March this year out of a total of 644,024.

A total of 632,050 nurses, midwives and health visitors were registered in the previous 12 months making this year's increase the biggest annual rise in 10 years.

The old cultural barriers have come down and professions once dominated by men or women are becoming more reflective of society as a whole

Jonathan Asbridge

The increase also makes it the highest total on the NMC register since 1997.

However, there are still many unfilled nursing vacancies across the NHS, and many trusts are increasingly relying on overseas recruitment to plug gaps in the service.

NMC president Jonathan Asbridge welcomed the increase in male nurses.

He said: "Opening up the profession to men means twice as many potential recruits into nursing.

"The old cultural barriers have come down and professions once dominated by men or women are becoming more reflective of society as a whole.

"In the case of nursing, this must be better for our patients."

Working abroad

The NMC statistics show that most of the men on their register work either as general nurses or mental health nurses.

There are only 93 male midwives in current practice and only 340 men with a health visiting qualification.

About 15% of current student nurses are men, which means numbers will rise in coming years.

The figures also show that the average age of nurses is rising. The percentage of nurses, midwives and health visitors aged 50 or over was the highest ever at 26%.

The trend for UK-trained nurses to opt for work abroad also appears to be gathering pace. A total of 6,256 left Britain, the highest number for 10 years.

Some 1,057 nurses opted for work in Europe, and 1,089 plumped for a new start in the US.

A total of 15,064 overseas-trained nurses and midwives were registered during the period, making it the highest ever and 79% more than in 2000-2001.