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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19 May 2026
BRIEFING: Nursing student financial hardship
RCN briefing on nursing student financial hardship.
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18 May 2026
BRIEFING: Initial findings from the Royal College of Nursing 2026 Last Shift Survey
RCN briefing on the initial findings from the Royal College of Nursing 2026 Last Shift Survey.
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14 May 2026
The Nursing Workforce in Scotland 2026
We are calling on the new Scottish government to prioritise workforce planning in its efforts to deliver health and social care reform. In our fifth report, we highlight that nursing staff have seen little meaningful improvement to health and care services, whether in the NHS or independent sector, including on fixing the workforce crisis.
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27 Apr 2026
BRIEFING: RCN insight and analysis of high caseloads in community mental health settings
RCN briefing analysing high caseloads in community mental health settings.
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25 Mar 2026
CONSULTATION RESPONSE: Settlement, Citizenship and Integration
RCN response to the Justice and Home Affairs Committee's call for evidence on settlement, citizenship and integration.
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12 Mar 2026
BRIEFING: Mass lobby of Parliament on "earned settlement" proposals, 11th March 2026
RCN briefing for the mass lobby of Parliament on the UK Government's "earned settlement" proposals, 11th March 2026.
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5 Mar 2026
CONSULTATION RESPONSE: Fair Pay Agreement Process in Adult Social Care
RCN response to the Department of Health and Social Care's (DHSC) consultation on the fair pay agreement process in adult social care.
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27 Feb 2026
POLICY: National guidance for NHS staff on speaking up in NHS Scotland
RCN response to survey on national guidance for NHS staff on speaking up in NHS Scotland
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26 Feb 2026
The Gloves are Off - Briefing on staffing for safe and effective care
The evidence couldn’t be clearer. When there are enough nursing staff, with the right skills, in any care setting – patients are safer. Scotland needs the right numbers of nursing staff, with the right skills, in the right place. This election we’re calling for nursing to be recognised as an asset, rather than viewed as a cost.
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26 Feb 2026
The Gloves are Off - Briefing on investing in community nursing
Against a backdrop of increasing patient need, there is widespread agreement about the urgent need to shift the balance of care into the community to better serve individuals and achieve more sustainable services. But this has been talked about for years. It is vital that progress is delivered in the next parliamentary session. Scottish government must recognise that community nursing is central to achieving this ambitious agenda.
