On health, the party pledges to fix the NHS and cut waiting lists and states that, under a Reform government, the NHS would remain free at the point of need. It plans to immediately establish an independent, expert Scottish Healthcare Reform Commission which would address various challenges, including developing a workforce plan to train more nurses, come up with delayed discharge solutions and shifting to a prevention strategy. Reform also plans to expand frontline services in the community and embrace technology, including AI and the NHS England app.  

On social care, the manifesto states that a “new deal for local government” will give councils more flexibility, control and spending power for local services. 

Colin Poolman, RCN Scotland Executive Director, commented: 

“While Reform have acknowledged the need to act on some of the issues we’ve been campaigning on, including improving workforce planning and investing in community services, many of the commitments in the manifesto are very high level and lack any detail about what these would mean in reality, or how they would be delivered. 

“We are also clear that nurses and nursing support workers must have fair pay, and good employment terms and conditions, that reflect their safety critical role, wherever they work. We are calling for a commitment to fair pay that goes beyond income tax cuts. 

“Internationally educated nursing staff make an invaluable and welcome contribution to health and care services across Scotland. They deserve policies that reflect the value of their service, and I’m concerned about the language and policies in the manifesto around “putting locals first” and “prioritising local Scots,” particularly in relation to housing. All politicians have a duty to recongnise the contribution of internally educated nursing staff and a responsibility to avoid fueling harmful and divisive narratives around migration.” 

RCN Scotland will respond to each of the main parties’ manifestos, and we encourage all of our members to engage in the political process and use their vote on 7 May.  

Join our hustings event on 31 March - this is your opportunity to ask representatives from the main political parties what they will be doing to make nursing their priority.