Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the National Health Service (Common Staffing Method) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (“2024 Regulations”) which make provision in relation to the common staffing method. The common staffing method was introduced into the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 (“1978 Act”) by section 4 of the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019 and includes, among other things, the use of a “staffing level tool” and a “professional judgement tool” in determining the appropriate staffing levels for particular kinds of health care provision.

Regulation 2 makes amendments to provisions in the 2024 Regulations which prescribe, for the purposes of section 12IJ(3) of the 1978 Act, the professional judgement tool and the staffing level tools.

The professional judgement tool and the staffing level tools are publicly available online on Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s website at https://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.scot/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/HSP-RWW-recommendations-Appendix-1-Staffing-Tool-January-2025.pdf and, for ease, can also be opened and used in digital form by those who have been granted access (“registered users”) via an IT platform currently hosted by the Scottish Standard Time System (a system used within the NHS). Registered users can access the IT platform at https://workforce.mhs.scot.nhs.uk/eyou/Authentication/Login.aspx.