With this in mind we closely monitor not just the number of registered nurses on duty on each ward but we also consider the level of nursing skills required. We regularly review our nurse staffing levels using a national validated nursing workforce tool, to assess what the correct safe staffing levels should be for different wards. This is based on the level of patient acuity and the required nursing care for patients on a ward or department. We use the Safer Nursing Care Tool to collect data to inform our nurse staffing levels.
We also take into account and recognise the judgement of experienced nurses who know the wards and the patients' level of need. In addition, we continually monitor patient outcomes and quality indicators and consider these in our twice-yearly workforce reviews, and when we review nurse staffing levels.
It is also important to remember that the team delivering care on a ward consists not only of registered nurses but also other trained staff who work alongside them.
A 'one size fits all' for nurse staffing levels is not always in the best interest of patients; in some cases a higher ratio of nurses may be required, for example in our bone marrow transplant unit. In other areas patients may not need such a high ratio of registered nurses because they are not acutely ill.
We display both the actual and planned staffing levels on all of our wards on a shift-by-shift basis, and the latest data is also available below.