More than 40 women across the NHS and wider have taken part in an inspirational video to mark International Women’s Day.

Chair of NHS Improvement, Dido Harding, Chair of the Heath and Care Women’s Network, Samantha Allen and Professor Sue Hill, Chief Scientific Officer of NHS England, are among the women relaying this year’s message: “Better the balance, better the world” in the footage.

It comes as the latest figures from NHS Digital show a rise in the number of women working in the NHS.

Dr Nikki Kanani, a GP and NHS England’s Acting Medical Director for Primary Care, said she was proud to have put together the video featuring so many talented women across the NHS.

She said: “Today marks International Women’s Day and it’s come at a time when the NHS is employing more women than ever. The NHS is proud to be in the forefront of promoting the talents of women throughout the service.

“This is reflected in a short video in which women from all areas of the NHS have contributed to acknowledge how important this day is around the world. I’m proud to be associated with all the NHS stands for and the vital role women play in delivery of one of the best health services in the world.”

Meanwhile, NHS Digital figures show that three quarters of the NHS workforce are women, while the proportion of female doctors has grown each year for the last five years.

• Watch the video
• Now read a blog to mark international women’s day by GP Dr Stephanie de Giorgio, England’s Perinatal Mental Health National Clinical Lead and Advisor who gives her top ten tips for women’s health and primary care.

Those contributing messages to the video include:

• Dr Nikki Kanani, NHS England Medical Director of Primary Care with her daughter
• Tracie Jolliff, NHS Leadership Academy
• The NHS England Primary Care Team
• Farah Jameel, BMA
• Sam Jones
• Professor Sue Hill, Chief Scientific Officer for England
• Dr Penny Newman, NHS England NHS Innovation Accelerator Fellow
• Dr Carolyn Wilkins OBE – Chief Executive of Oldham Council and Accountable Officer for NHS Oldham CCG
• Sri Kalindi
• Kathy and Eden in Dr Nikki Kanani’s team
• Celia Ingham Clark, Medical Director for Clinical Effectiveness at NHS England
• Crystal Oldham and team at The Queen’s Nursing Institute
• Dame Barbara Hakin
• Cat, Pharmacist and Lucia, GP Fellow
• Sam Allen, Heath and Care Women’s Network Chair
• National Freedom to Speak Up Team
• Dr Patricia Wilkie, President of the National Association for Patient Participation
• Sheona McCloud, Health Education England
• Dr Zoe Norris, GP
• Tara Donnelly, Interim Chief Digital Officer at NHS England with team digital
• Carrie McEwan, Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
• Hannah Banham, BMA Junior Doctors Committee
• Dr Michelle Drage, Chief Executive of Londonwide LMCs
• Helen Stokes Lampard, Chair of the RCGP
• Mala Rao OBE
• Sarah Blow, Accountable Officer for the South West London Alliance of CCGs
• Keerti Kanani, Community Pharmacist
• Baroness Dido Harding, Chair of NHS Improvement
• Emma Stanton and the twins
• Dr Stephanie de Giorgio, GP
• Rebecca Rosen, Nuffield Trust
• Professor Becky Malby, London South Bank University
• Helen
• Caroline Corrigan, NHS Improvement
• Suzie Bailey, Kings Fund
• Julie Wood NHS Clinical Commissioners
• Karen Storey, Primary Care Nursing Lead, NHS England
• NHS England communications
• Dr Surina Chibber
• Dr Navina Evans, Chief Executive at East London NHS Foundation Trust with her team