Most NHS workers unaware of the new law on safe staffing
Almost two-thirds of NHS staff were unaware of the new legislation on safe staffing levels which came into effect last month, according to a survey from the union Unison.
The survey also found that 89 per cent had not received training on the regulations, which began on April 1.
Meanwhile, about eight in 10 staff said they did not have confidence in the existing procedures for dealing with staffing levels. The survey was carried out in March, before the new law came into force, with 3781 people responding.
The Health and Care (Staffing) Act was passed in the Scottish Parliament in 2019, but its implementation was delayed - in part due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It is the first legislation in the UK to set out requirements for safe staffing levels across both the health and care sectors. Health Secretary Neil Gray hailed April 1 as a "significant day" as it came into effect.
Unison said many incidents of short-staffing in the NHS are not being reported as the existing recording tool, Datix, is time-consuming and cumbersome.
Matt McLaughlin, Unison Scotland's head of health, said: "The government has had over four years to prepare for this new law, yet guidance was only made available four days before it became law.
"There's a direct link between staffing levels and high quality outcomes for patients.
"Our members repeatedly tell us they do not have enough staff or enough time to give patients the care they need and deserve."In wards where they do meet staffing requirements, there is often not the correct skill mix" to meet patients' needs. "