Nearly 2,000 Glasgow nurses have signed a letter to the board’s chief executive over safe staffing concerns, and the Director of the largest trade union for nurses in Scotland says similar action could be replicated across other health boards.

Nursing staff at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) have this week demanded serious and urgent action on safe staffing. It comes as the dates for a ballot on strike action over pay are announced.

The letter says the QEUH was short of 116 registered nurses and 29 health care support workers on the morning the letter was first written, on the 27^th of June. By the time the letter was delivered to the board’s chief executive this week it had been signed by 1867 staff.

Staffing remains below safe levels according to the union. Earlier that week, workplace representatives from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) reported an overnight ratio of 2.5 registered nurses to 84 patients.

The RCN says its members and their colleagues ‘are increasingly, under tremendous pressure’ and that the board’s management must now step in to improve the health, safety, wellbeing and morale of both staff and patients.

Colin Poolman, Director of RCN Scotland said: “The action we’ve seen members taking in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde today could be replicated across Scotland’s health boards.

“Nursing shortages are at critical levels with over 6,000 posts across Scotland unfilled. The impact of this is being felt across the system. Members working in every part of health and social care are telling us on a daily basis of chronic staff shortages, the risks to patient safety and the intolerable levels of pressure this is placing on staff.”

Legislation that sets out minimum staffing requirements across health and care services was passed by the Scottish government in 2019, but full implementation will not be enforced until April 2024.

Mr Poolman says staff cannot wait for improvements:

“Our members go to work to do their best but too often they are unable to provide the level of safe and effective care they want because there simply aren’t enough of them.

“The Scottish government and NHS boards must act now to protect patient safety, address staff shortages and demonstrate that nursing is valued as the safety critical profession it is.

“Nursing staff are telling us that enough is enough. We need effective workforce planning that is based on population need, implementation of Scotland’s safe staffing legislation and fair pay that truly reflects the essential role that nursing staff play 24 hours a day seven days a week.”

Action at the QEUH comes as more than 90% of RCN members vote to reject the Scottish government’s offer of a 5% pay rise.

The number of members voting on the pay offer was more than double compared to a similar ballot last year, in what the union has described as an ‘unprecedented show of strength and feeling amongst nursing staff’.

Midwives and materntiy support workers have also overwhelmingly rejected the 5% pay offer in the highest ever turnout for a Royal College of Midwives (RCM) pay consultation.

Both the RCM and the RCN say they will now encourage their members working for NHS Scotland to vote in favour of strike action in a ballot that opens next month.

Julie Lamberth, Chair of RCN Scotland, said the union must stand up for fair pay, especially in the context of the rising cost of living:

“Given the unprecedented response to our recent ballot and the overwhelming rejection of the Scottish government’s offer, we have no option but to move towards a statutory ballot for industrial strike action.

“In all my years in nursing I have never known such strength of determination amongst nursing staff. After years of staff shortages and underpayment, your vote in the upcoming ballot will be essential in turning the tide on low pay.”

 

Read more: RCN: treating patients in corridor is 'scandalous'; Safe staffing timetable announced

 

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