Staffing and skills mix review
Health Boards should ensure that the staffing and skills mix is appropriate for each ward, and that it is reviewed in response to increases in the level of activity/patient acuity.
How was this assessed?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedSection 4.1 of the Scottish Government's response details the development and mandatory use of ground-breaking nursing and midwifery workload and workforce planning tools across all NHS boards. These tools help determine the number of nurses or midwives needed by measuring actual workload in clinical areas, incorporating professional judgment and quality measures. This ensures appropriate staffing and skill mix, with action plans developed by boards to support their use and communicate outcomes.
Published Evidence
Published assessments of implementation progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Check the source type badge to see whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.
Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019 came into force 1 April 2024. Provides statutory basis for appropriate staffing including Common Staffing Method with mandatory staffing level tools for adult inpatient wards. Goes beyond what the inquiry recommended by putting safe staffing on a statutory footing.
View detailed findings
Legislation introduces the Common Staffing Method (CSM) as the overarching approach to staffing decisions. Ministerial Annual Report 2024/25 published. Clinical and care staffing levels must be reviewed in response to patient acuity changes.