Good news from Wales – Kirsty Williams’ Bill which would stipulate minimum staffing levels for nurses has cleared its first parliamentary stage.
If passed into law, the Safe Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Bill would see Wales become the first country in the UK with a legal duty on safe nurse staffing levels in acute settings.
Kirsty Williams, leader of the Welsh Democrats, who originally submitted the proposals for safe nurse staffing levels in hospitals, said she was “pleased” the idea had gained support from all parties.
The vote today in the Welsh Assembly represents the end of stage one of the bill. It will now progress to stage two where it will be considered for a second time by the assembley’s health and social care committee and face a first round of amendments.
Under the assembly’s normal process, the bill would then have to survive two further stages before it can become legislation.
Kirsty is quoted as saying:
This significant vote brings safe staffing levels in all of our hospitals a step closer.
The premise of my ‘more nurses bill’ is very simple – nurses who have fewer patients to care for, can spend more time with each patient. As a result, they can provide better, safer care.
The Royal College of Nursing welcomed the vote yesterday, too.
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2 Comments
‘The premise of my ‘more nurses bill’ is very simple – nurses who have fewer patients to care for, can spend more time with each patient. As a result, they can provide better, safer care.’
Well…OK. But I’d have to ask what realistic penalties there can be here for non-compliance. I’m also a bit suspicious that this might just lead to a load more money being chucked at agencies rather than problems being dealt with.
Well done, Kirsty.
There might be an Agency issue. I would love to be able to charge some English Agencies for a contribution to training costs?
Trust Kirsty’s judgement