Almost four in five Scots say there are not enough nurses to provide safe care

Almost four out of five Scots believe there are not enough nurses to provide safe and effective care for patients, a survey has revealed.

Polling for the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in Scotland found 78% of people agreed there are not enough nursing staff to achieve this.

And while over three quarters (77%) of the public valued nursing staff for the work they do, less than a quarter (22%) believe that the Government values and recognises the contribution nurses make.

The findings of the survey were revealed as the union called on the next Scottish Government to ensure there are enough nurses to provide “safe and effective care”.

The challenge was contained in the RCN’s pre-election manifesto, released ahead of May’s Scottish Parliament vote.

With the union declaring in it that “the gloves are off”, it also called for investment in community health services, so that care can be delivered closer to people.

In addition, it said that “decisive action to support good health and wellbeing” is needed, so that any health problems can be dealt with at an early stage.

RCN Scotland executive director Colin Poolman said they were “calling for bold action, not just more promises”.

He added: “By saying the gloves are off nursing staff are not walking away – they are signalling their intent to stand up, to be heard and to be counted as an asset for the future of our health and care services.”

Mr Poolman spoke as the polling, carried out between January 26 and 29 by the Diffley Partnership, found that 84% of Scots believe nursing staff do not get to spend long enough with the patients they have.

A similar proportion (86%) agreed that there should be mandatory, minimum nurse-to-patient ratios for all health and care settings.

Speaking out as nurses prepared to lobby MSPs at Holyrood, Mr Poolman said: “The next Scottish Government must value the nursing workforce, ensure staffing for safe and effective care, invest in community services to deliver care closer to the individual, and support better health for everyone.”

He continued: “Scotland’s communities rely on nursing, it is the biggest health and care workforce in the country.

“But our health and care services have depended too heavily, and for too long, on the goodwill of nursing staff, without the recognition, support and investment they deserve.

“It is clear that the public agrees that more needs to be done to value the nursing profession, and our members tell us it is becoming increasingly difficult to deliver safe, dignified care to the standard they would like.

“Scotland cannot build the sustainable nursing workforce it urgently needs by asking staff to continue to work under relentless pressure while feeling demoralised and undervalued.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Our nurses are the backbone of Scotland’s NHS, and we owe them an enormous debt of gratitude for their skill, compassion and unwavering dedication, often in the most demanding of circumstances.

“Over the past decade, Scotland’s NHS workforce has grown significantly, with 64,396 nurses now in post – an increase of 15%.

“We invest over £2.5 million each year in staff wellbeing, including mental health support, psychological therapies and a compassionate listening service through NHS 24, because looking after those who look after us is not just important – it is essential.

“In February 2025 we published our Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce Report, developed with the RCN as a key stakeholder. Together, we are now implementing its recommendations with a clear and ambitious goal: to make Scotland the very best place in the UK for nurses to work, develop and thrive.”