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Cabinet Secretary faces scrutiny from RCN Scotland Board
RCN Scotland board members have made clear to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray MSP that he must do significantly more to if he is to rebuild the shattered trust between the Scottish government and RCN members.
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The Minister faced challenging questions from RCN Scotland board members at their meeting in Edinburgh yesterday (20 February).
Mr Gray accepted the last-minute invitation to meet with the board and explain why the implementation of the reduced working week for Agenda for Change staff has been delayed.
The Board expressed their, and your, anger and frustration at the decision. They highlighted the mixed messages that you and your Agenda for Change colleagues have received about the implementation of the reduced working week. They explained how this decision had further eroded the trust in the Scottish government and undermined the sense that wellbeing of staff is important. The Cabinet Secretary was asked to consider options for compensation and to demonstrate that nursing staff are genuinely valued.
Mr Gray acknowledge the breakdown in trust and referenced the ongoing service pressures as a key factor in his decision.
When asked about the steps being taken to eradicate corridor care, Mr Gray agreed that any care in inappropriate areas was unacceptable. The Board pushed for mandatory reporting of hospital overcrowding so the full scale of the problem can be understood and addressed.
The Cabinet Secretary reiterated his commitment to the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce and recognised that delivering on the recommendations is key to ensuring a sustainable nursing workforce and meeting the legal requirements of Scotland’s safe staffing legislation.
Board members pressed the Cabinet Secretary on the timetable for NHS pay negotiations. They pointed out that yet again the Scottish government’s failure to commit to discussions means the April pay anniversary will be missed.
Julie Lamberth, Board Chair, said: “It was important for the Cabinet Secretary to hear about the impact of his decisions directly from members.
“Our profession is the backbone of Scotland’s health and care system. Mr Gray was left in no doubt about the work required to rebuild our trust in the Scottish government and for the need for him and other Ministers to demonstrate their commitment to nursing and to the sustainable future of our health and care services through action not words.”
RCN Scotland is working with other staff side organisations to continue to challenge the Scottish government’s decision.
