MSPS back health and social care staffing bill

A Holyrood committee has backed proposals to ensure health and social care providers supply enough staff.

It is considering plans put forward in the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Bill, introduced in May.

If passed, the bill would enable safe and high quality care by making the provision of appropriate staffing in health and care statutory.

The bill has been under scrutiny by the health and sport committee, which indicated support for its general principles.

However, MSPS on the committee have asked for more details on how staff numbers and care quality will be assessed, monitored and reported.

They also raised concerns about a danger of resources being skewed towards the hospital sector in order to meet the initial requirements set out in the legislation.

Committee convener Lewis Macdonald said: “We all share the aim of having a health and social care system that has safe staffing levels, providing high-quality care.

“Having appropriately qualified staff in the right place at the right time is central to providing that level of care that we have come to expect. However, it is essential resources are placed where they are most needed.”