Commenting on Audit Scotland’s report on ‘NHS Workforce Planning’ in Scotland, Professor Derek Bell, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, said:

“The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh welcomes this report by Audit Scotland and its proposals to improve workforce planning in the NHS in Scotland to enable it to plan for the future health care needs of the population.

“A coordinated and detailed approach is required across all levels – Government, Board, regional, and the integration authorities - to ensure that we have a world class clinical workforce providing the appropriate models of care.

“Doctors and other healthcare staff have an important role to play in making decisions about workforce planning and focus should be given to profiling future demand on population health needs.

“The report also recognises the more urgent workforce challenges that the NHS faces. The morale of the healthcare workforce must remain a priority in the short term as well as being a central part of future workforce planning. The benefits of having a valued and motivated workforce are important, as huge pressures exist in the sector that are exacerbated by vacancies. 

"Despite existing challenges staff remain motivated and committed to delivering excellent patient care and it is important that we continue to support them with evidence-based workforce data to support planning. Investment in our current and future workforce is essential, both financially and to create a culture where colleagues have the time to care, time to train, and time to research.”

Contact: Lisa Rooke - 0131 247 3688 / 07717 895628 / l.rooke@rcpe.ac.uk