Progressing our 2023 workforce report recommendations

Our 2023 report used the latest available data and provided a stark illustration of the extent of the nursing workforce crisis across health and social care in Scotland. We included 10 very clear recommendations for how the tide of this crisis can begin to be turned, covering issues such as nursing supply, retention and the need for better data.

For our recommendations to have an impact, it’s vital that we continue to make the case for meaningful change throughout the year. We want these recommendations to be discussed at every opportunity with decision makers and other stakeholders. In our 2023 report, we reviewed the recommendations of the previous years’ report and it’s  fair to say that the progress was very mixed. This year, we want to track more closely and report on any developments. 

There will be significant opportunities to repeat the calls made in our 2023 report in the coming months. Both the review of the NHS Agenda for Change pay scheme and the Ministerial Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce present opportunities to realise many of the recommendations for staff working across health & social care. We also continue to work with the Scottish government and other stakeholders to ensure that the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019 is implemented in full next year. Proposals from the Scottish government to reform care services could also present an opportunity to ensure that funding for the sector better reflects clinical need and the contribution nursing makes to delivering care, as recommended in our 2023 report.

At RCN Scotland, we’ll continue to use our 2023 workforce report recommendations as a focal point for much of our work during the rest of the year. Watch this space for further updates.