The Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019 will come into effect on 1 April 2024.
The intent of the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act isn’t a new concept. It builds on existing legislation, policy, local practice and guiding principles (see below those detailed in the Act) to ensure safe staffing and to protect the wellbeing of staff.
The Guiding Principles as specified in the Act are:
- To provide safe and high-quality services and to ensure the best health care or (as the case may be) care outcomes for service users – our patients.
Staffing for health care and care services is to be arranged while:
- Improving standards and outcomes for service users
- Taking account of service user needs
- Respecting dignity and rights of service users
- Taking account of the views of service users
- Ensuring wellbeing of staff
- Being open with staff and service users about decisions on staffing
- Make the best use of available individuals, facilities and resources
- Promoting multi-disciplinary services as appropriate
The Act applies to ALL clinical staff & senior leads within ALL healthcare professions e.g. nursing & midwifery, AHP, medical, dental, pharmacy, psychology, HC scientists etc. All roles applicable to the Act within health and care are highlighted here. (This does not apply in legislation to all non-clinical support staff for health).
To find out what this means for you (all clinical staff and senior leads) and to have an awareness of the Act (all non-clinical support staff) click here
To find out how NHS Lanarkshire has prepared for readiness of the Act thus far click here
To view the full Act click here
Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) are the monitoring body for the Act, more details on the support and tools available can be accessed here
