ALMOST £7 million will be invested in training nurses as part of a new NHS workforce plan, the Health Secretary has announced.
Shona Robison said the funding would help the existing nursing workforce better meet the needs of people who require care in their own homes, GP practices or other community settings.
The workforce plan emphasises the importance of highly skilled multi-disciplinary teams and outlines plans to support the recruitment of an additional 800 GPs over the next ten years, plus an annual investment of £35m by 2022 for an extra 800 mental health workers in key locations such as A&E departments, GP practices, police stations and prisons.
Robison said: “A strong and professional workforce is at the centre of the success of Scotland’s health and social system. The investment in nurse training will mean that more patients are treated in the community and ensure the sustainability of a multi-disciplinary team approach.
“Scotland is leading the way on workforce planning and I am proud that we are the first nation in the UK to publish a plan that not only puts community care at its heart, but also helps prepare us for the expected challenges Brexit may bring for our workforce.”
Theresa Fyffe, Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Scotland director, said: “RCN Scotland is pleased that the Scottish Government has listened to our concerns and that this plan reflects the need for a new approach to developing multi-professional primary care teams.
“We welcome recognition that district nurses, advanced nurse practitioners and practice nurses are essential in providing safe, high-quality care in our communities and to the overall success of primary care services. The commitment to investing £6.9m over three years for the education and training of general practice nurses and district nurses is a move in the right direction.”
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