Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce Overview
Working together to strengthen, support and empower Scotland’s nursing and midwifery workforce.
Explore the Ministerial Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce (NMT), from how it was established, to its aims, scope and the journey from listening to implementation. Discover the themed subgroups driving this work and be inspired by powerful stories from across Scotland.
The NMT is leading progress to help transform the future of nursing and midwifery in Scotland.
On this page, explore:
Have a question or feedback?
If you have any questions about the information provided, or feedback on this website, please contact the Nursing and Midwifery Policy Team at the Scottish Government NMTenquiries@gov.scot.
Overview
In February 2023, the Scottish Government established a Ministerial Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce (NMT). The Taskforce originated following requests from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and Royal College of Midwives (RCM) as part of the 2023 pay negotiations to address challenges with attracting and retaining nurses and midwives in Scotland. It was agreed that the way forward was to bring stakeholders and experts together to work collaboratively to develop and deliver the required change.
The Taskforce included representatives from: NHSScotland, Social Care, Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), professional organisations, trade unions, RCN, RCM, Unison and Unite, third sector, academic workforce experts, Higher Education Institutions, Council of Deans for Health Scotland, NHS Education for Scotland, Scottish Government (see report of Phase One for full membership).
Taskforce Aim
The aim of the Taskforce was to work collaboratively, to listen to nursing and midwifery staff to identify what was important for them, and to develop a workplan of Recommended Actions to deliver short-term and long-term sustainable change and build on efforts to make Scotland the best place for midwives and nurses to thrive at work. The Recommended Actions are relevant for nursing and midwifery staff (registered or not, or in training) in all sectors, including NHS Scotland, social care, and academia. In essence, the Taskforce takes a whole system approach to creating the nursing and midwifery workforce of the future in line with the needs of Scotland’s population.
A whole system approach to building the workforce Scotland needs -now and for the future.
Taskforce Scope
It's important to note that the scope of the work of the Taskforce (both Phase One and Phase Two) does not include pay or terms and conditions. Nurses and midwives working in the health and social care sector are part of a much wider system that affect the conditions and environments in which they work, and many of these are beyond the scope of the Taskforce.
For example, decisions made in other sectors, such as schools, the voluntary sector, food advertising, etc., will affect patients’ expectations, demand on health care, and patient flows within the health and social care system.
The Taskforce is part of a much broader programme of work that spans the implementation of the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019, the National Workforce Strategy, the Agenda for Change (AfC) Non-pay Review and other work programmes for the wider NHS Scotland workforce.
Explore the Taskforce Website
