We are clear that publication of the Taskforce recommendations is just the first step. Now the focus must be on implementing these actions in a sustainable and meaningful way. These are ambitious plans and implementation will take time and investment. The Scottish government has agreed to form an implementation group to oversee this work, including developing a detailed workplan with timescales and a financial framework, and we look forward to playing a key role on this group.

The Taskforce report is the culmination of two years of collaborative working and we now have a clear set of recommendations that we will use to hold the Scottish government to account to deliver positive change and meet its own aspiration of making Scotland the best place for nurses and midwives to work. 

We ask MSPs to support our calls for the Scottish government to fund implementation of the Taskforce recommendations and to scrutinise the progress made by Scottish government and employers in delivering these. If the taskforce recommendations are not implemented the current crisis in the nursing workforce will only worsen.