Today’s announcement of a national Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce is a direct result of the College’s mandate for strike action and the RCN’s calls for the Scottish government to act. It follows a meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Humza Yousaf MSP, the Chief Nursing Officer, Alex McMahon and the RCN Scotland Board at the start of February.
The Taskforce will recommend a series of actions to address the current staffing crisis by support the retention and development of existing nursing staff and encouraging more people to consider a career in nursing. It has committed to engaging with and listening to nursing staff across Scotland to understand the unique challenges they face.
Colin Poolman, Director, RCN Scotland said: “Pay is important, but you have been clear that it is the chronic staff shortages and service pressures that led you to vote for strike action.
“Today’s announcement demonstrates that the voice of nursing is being heard. We will hold the Scottish government to its commitment to deliver a sustainable nursing workforce. Together with our partners in the Taskforce we will ensure that your personal experiences and views, as well as those of the wider nursing workforce and the nurses of the future, informs and shapes this essential work.”
Julie Lamberth, Chair, RCN Scotland board said: “For too long our concerns about the future of our profession have been ignored. Our mandate for strike action has forced the Scottish government to sit up and listen.
“Like so many of you, I love my job. Nursing can be the most rewarding and fulfilling career, but I’ve seen too many of my colleagues turn their back on the profession. This Taskforce presents the opportunity to address the workforce crisis, to support existing experienced nurses to stay and to make nursing a career of choice once again.”
