This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Flexible working for nurses
30/04/2004
Supporting flexible working practices is essential to the recruitment and retention of vital healthcare staff, Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm said today.
Speaking at the national launch of Balanced Working Lives resource pack which gives practical advice to employers on how to offer more flexible working for nurses and midwives, he said:
"Fresh thinking in this area is vital so that we can get shift patterns and practices which better suit busy lives and family responsibilities.
"The Balanced Working Lives project highlights much good practice already in place across Scotland.
"The project covers nurses and midwives - the largest group of frontline NHS staff. There is great potential for managers to extend this to the rest of the workforce.
"Good practice needs to be shared and built upon. This resource is one
employers can use to make arrangements so that the right people are available at the right time and health staff are encouraged to develop their careers in NHSScotland. They must use it to support staff in their need to balance work, home and other commitments."
The resource pack produced by the Centre for Change and Innovation outlines ideas which can be considered when looking at planning flexible approaches and explains why flexible working is important and offers benefits to staff, employers and patients. The pack also illustrates the experience of nursing staff involved in flexible working schemes.
Balanced Working Lives is just one of the initiatives being undertaken in NHSScotland to develop and implement innovative approaches to employing and deploying healthcare staff.
The Minister also announced today the winners of NHSScotland PIN (Partnership Information Network) Awards:
* NHS Grampian for the Family Friendly Guideline
* Yorkhill Hospital for Dignity at Work
* NHS Tayside for Health at Work
* NHS Lanarkshire for Sickness Absence policy
The awards are given in acknowledgement of the work of healthcare teams and services in operating policies in line with PIN guidelines on the development of good employment practice for use across Scotland.
Mr Chisholm said:
"They are very worthy winners. Each of these teams has displayed a high regard for considering the working conditions, environment and work/life balance for the staff working in their areas.
"Examples like these show how across Scotland, real differences are being made every day by policies driven on the ground to make NHSScotland an exemplar employer."
The Minister was speaking at the annual conference convened to bring together frontline staff, healthcare managers and others to discuss Human Resources issues in NHSScotland.