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Time for CPD: nurses in Scotland could be the first in the UK to win a legal guarantee

New safe staffing law could protect time out for continuing professional development
nurses in a classroom

New safe staffing law could protect time out for continuing professional development


Picture: iStock

Nurses in Scotland could become the first in the UK to have continuing professional development (CPD) time protected by law.

A legal safeguard for nurses' CPD time is included in a series of amendments to Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) bill being considered by members of the Scottish parliament.

If approved, employers would have to ensure nurses have at least 35 hours of CPD every three years. This is the minimum required for Nursing and Midwifery Council revalidation. Doctors in the UK already enjoy legal protection for their CPD time through their employment contracts.

Staffing pressures

Nurses everywhere in the UK have been struggling to complete CPD because of staffing pressures in their workplaces.

The amendment that would give CPD time a legal mandate was put forward by Green Party MSP Alison Johnstone. Other amendments proposed by Ms Johnstone include: 

  • Ensuring senior charge nurses can fulfil their supervisory role
  • That the Scottish Government ensure there are adequate nurses in the workforce for employers to meet staffing targets

Ms Johnstone said ensuring nurses had time to develop their professional skills would help recruitment and and retention.

‘The opportunity to develop makes people feel valued, and it encourages and supports people to be their best,' she said.

RCN Scotland director Theresa Fyffe said: ‘Time for training and CPD is one of the first things to go when there are staffing pressures. Nursing staff need protected time if they are to develop and maintain the standards of care.'

Keeping the pressure on

Ms Fyffe said the college would be fighting for all three amendments to remain in the bill.

‘Scotland’s politicians have listened and supported many of our arguments, as they too want to get this legislation right,’ she said.

‘Over the coming weeks we will be campaigning hard to maintain these amendments and make further changes as the bill progresses through its final stage and into law.’

The Scottish Government said it continued to work with stakeholders to ensure the bill 'recognises and supports the multidisciplinary nature of health and social care'.

'Our Health and Care Staffing legislation for Scotland is the first multidisciplinary workload and workforce planning legislation anywhere in the UK,' a government spokesperson said.

'It supports the work we already undertake collaboratively with stakeholders to ensure sufficient supply of nurses.'

Such actions include free tuition for nursing students and increasing the student bursary to £10,000, the spokesperson added.


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