What the Swiss know about supporting their nurses – and what we can learn from them

While England’s parliament has failed the profession on workforce planning, Swiss nurses will reap the benefits of a referendum on improving nurses’ working lives

In late November 2021 the democratic process was used in two European countries – and in two very different ways – to try and hold governments to account on nurse staffing levels.

Switzerland held a national referendum in which the electorate voted overwhelmingly in favour of proposals to support nursing, set out by the Swiss Nurses Association’ and others. The vote achieved a majority of 61%, with a voter turnout of 65.3%.

England’s parliament votes against plan to strengthen nursing workforce