On 4 December 2019, the Welsh Government announced that the Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Act 2016 is to be extended to paediatric inpatient wards by April 2021, subject to approval by the Senedd. RCN Wales welcomes this announcement but is disappointed that the Act has not been extended to other health care settings, such as community nursing, health visiting or inpatient mental health settings.
RCN Wales Director, Helen Whyley said, “It is encouraging that the Welsh Government has shown a commitment to ensure the nurse staffing levels in paediatric in patient services are evidence based. Children are a vulnerable group and require specialised care from trained, paediatric nurses. It is disappointing that the Act has not been extended to other areas such as the community, given so many reports about the importance of the nurses to deliver services”.
