RCN Scotland Board Chair Julie Lamberth shares how members are influencing politicians to ensure the next Scottish government values nursing staff and safeguards the future of the profession
“The events of this last year have made it clear that things need to change,” says Julie Lamberth, senior charge nurse and RCN Scotland Board chair. “Members have told us they’re working harder than ever but feel less valued and problems that pre-existed the pandemic, like low staffing levels, continue to have a huge impact on patient safety, and staff morale and wellbeing.”
As Scotland prepares to elect its next government in May, Julie and members across the country have been calling on politicians to commit to key actions to tackle these issues.
Julie says: “It’s an opportunity to engage with politicians and we need to do that now more than ever. COVID-19 has shone a light on our profession and there’s been a lot of references to nursing staff as ‘heroes’. I don’t see myself as a hero – I’m just doing my job. But I want to be valued for the job I do.”
The RCN’s Protect the Future of Nursing manifesto sets out exactly what members and the RCN think needs to be done to better value the profession and to ensure nursing staff can deliver safe and effective care to patients in all health and care settings across Scotland now and in the future.
I don’t see myself as a hero – I’m just doing my job. But I want to be valued for the job I do
Prioritising safe staffing
Julie says that alongside fair pay, one of the most crucial elements of this is implementing Scotland’s Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act. Members were instrumental in shaping this safe staffing legislation which is the first of its kind in the UK to apply to both health and social care services and was passed in May 2019. Work to implement the act has since been paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“One of our key asks is that work to implement the legislation in workplaces starts again,” says Julie. “The RCN will be involved in this work, which includes developing statutory guidance and workforce planning tools.
“Even before the pandemic, almost half of members in Scotland were reporting that they were too busy to provide the level of care they’d like to. COVID-19 has further highlighted the urgent need for safe nurse staffing levels – not only for our patients, but to protect the health and wellbeing of nursing staff too.
“We’ve been holding roundtable events with MSPs as part of our campaigning and members are questioning them on when the legislation will come into force – nursing staff can see the impact it will have.”
In her clinical role as a senior charge nurse (SCN), Julie is also optimistic about the difference the legislation, alongside investment in the workforce – another of the manifesto’s asks – could make.
“With the right staffing levels, I’d be able to focus more on developing and supporting my staff,” explains Julie. “It’s definitely got harder to do that part of the job over the last year. I have some protected time for non-clinical work, but when you have staff off sick or self-isolating, it’s hard to maintain that. We just don’t have enough staff to cover so I have to step in.
“I need time to develop my team members and think about the next step in their careers. With recent surveys showing an increase in members wanting to leave the profession, this is even more important.”
Members fought hard for Scotland’s safe staffing legislation to recognise the pivotal role SCNs and their equivalent in the community play in coordinating safe care and developing nursing teams. The RCN will be pushing to have this unique role, and the need for SCNs to not carry a direct patient caseload, to be recognised in any guidance.
Speaking up for nursing
Julie says that although individual MSPs haven’t been able to commit to the RCN’s ask of implementing the legislation by the end of the year, the majority have shown a lot of support for nursing staff and tackling the issues members are raising during online events hosted by the RCN.
“Members are asking valuable questions and sharing their experiences,” says Julie. “One MSP was challenged to shadow a member for a day to see what it’s really like in the workplace and they accepted, and many have been interested in continuing conversations with the RCN after the events.”
As well as attending online meetings with MSPs and spreading the word on social media, Julie wants to encourage members to get involved in their local RCN branch. With members who are working in the NHS in Scotland currently being consulted on a pay offer, Julie says it’s also an opportunity to find out more about the consultation.
“Attending your branch meetings and getting involved at branch level gives you a clearer picture of what’s happening across the country and in your area,” says Julie. “You can ask questions and share your thoughts. It’s also really helpful for branches in terms of getting local intelligence from members.”
It’s time to all use our voice to speak up for nursing and the future of the profession
Julie says: “It’s important for members to have their say on the pay offer. We also need to take on board that the RCN’s Fair Pay For Nursing campaign is asking for 12.5% and that this figure is based on extensive engagement with the membership.
“We must remember that we’re fighting for fair pay for all nursing staff, including members working in the independent health and social care sector – they are just as much a part of the pay campaign, our manifesto and the safe staffing legislation.”
Julie adds: “The RCN has thousands of members and we should be using our voice. As nursing staff, we advocate and speak up for our patients. It’s time to all use our voice to speak up for nursing and the future of the profession.”
Health, social care and public health are devolved in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, meaning governments in each country shape their own policies.
Our manifesto calls for the next Scottish government to ensure:
- fair pay for nursing
- support for professional development and wellbeing
- enough nursing staff to deliver safe and effective care
- a workforce in the community and care homes that reflects clinical need
- action to tackle health inequalities and grow the mental health nursing workforce.
Read our full manifesto.
Get involved
Members in Scotland can join an online hustings event on 26 April. You’ll have the chance to raise the issues that are important to you and pose questions to representatives from each of the main political parties about their party’s priorities for health and care. Find out more.
You can also use our online tool to email your local parliamentary candidates and tell them why nursing needs their support, and wherever you’re based in the UK, you can show support for the campaign on social media.
Members in Wales are also campaigning ahead of the Senedd election on 6 May.
NHS pay in Scotland
The Scottish government has made a one-year pay offer to NHS Scotland Agenda for Change staff following negotiations with the RCN and other health trade unions, and NHS employers. Members on NHS Scotland Agenda for Change terms and conditions are being asked to vote to accept or reject the offer in a consultation running from 16 April to 5 May. Find out more.
