RCN briefings
Policy briefings, parliamentary briefings and consultation responses on the issues that matter to nursing staff
The RCN works with government, think tanks and other stakeholders to ensure the voice of nursing is heard. You can get involved in policy development by taking part in surveys, workshops, seminars and briefings.
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13 May 2025
Assisted Dying Bill Stage 1
MSPs debated and voted on the general principles of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill today (13 May). We published a briefing ahead of the debate, explaining how neutral stance on the principle of the Bill does not mean we have been silent about its provisions. Most importantly, we believe the Bill needs improved safeguards for nurses.
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6 May 2025
The Nursing Workforce in Scotland
The report shows that while the gap between planned staffing and actual staffing has reduced, at no point has NHS Scotland employed the number of nursing staff needed to deliver safe and effective care. In social care, the gap is widening as clinical need increases and the number of registered nurses working in care homes continues to decline.
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27 Mar 2025
RCN BRIEFING: MODERN SLAVERY ACT 2015, 10TH ANNIVERSARY DEBATES
RCN Parliamentary Briefing on the general debate of the tenth anniversary of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 on 27th March 2025, and Debate on Report from the Modern Slavery Act 2015 Committee: 'The Modern Slavery Act 2015: becoming world-leading again' on 28th March 2025.
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27 Mar 2025
REPORT: Student Attrition
A research report into nursing student attrition by Community Research for the RCN.
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19 Mar 2025
CONSULTATION RESPONSE: Equality at work, paternity and shared parental leave
RCN submission to the Women and Equalities Committee's inquiry on Equality at work: paternity and shared parental leave.
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19 Mar 2025
CONSULTATION RESPONSE: NHS Standard Contract 2025/26
RCN response to NHS England's consultation on NHS Standard Contract 2025/26.
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17 Mar 2025
POLICY: Rural Delivery Plan
RCN Scotland response to the Scottish Government consultation on a Rural Delivery Plan.
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14 Mar 2025
Stage 1 of the Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill
RCN Scotland's response to the Scottish Parliament's stage 1 call for evidence on the Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill
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13 Feb 2025
RCN Scotland member briefing - Influencing for positive change
The Ministerial Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce has made 44 recommendations for action. As a central member of the Taskforce, RCN Scotland helped shape each and every one of these recommendations. This briefing is a summary of the RCN’s most significant achievements, including some of what we anticipate will be the most impactful outcomes and recommended actions.
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13 Feb 2025
RCN Scotland MSP briefing - Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce
Briefing for MSPs on the Scottish government’s Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce report Delivering Together for a Stronger Nursing and Midwifery Workforce and the 44 recommended actions they have made.
