Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has published an updated policy framework for staffing in nursing and midwifery across Northern Ireland. The framework offers guidance on determining safe staffing levels and skill mixes in midwifery and all nursing fields.

First released in 2014, the framework has now been revised for the first time. Chief Nursing Officer Professor Maria McIlgorm convened a task and finish group in autumn 2023 to update it based on changes in population needs, service models, and new evidence.

The update clarifies roles, responsibilities, and accountability from ward level to board level. It includes tools and methods for workforce planning to promote consistency region-wide. Operational workforce planning falls to Health and Social Care Trusts and independent employers.

Nesbitt stated that the health system has faced pressures over the past 12 years, such as an ageing population with complex needs, longer waiting lists, increased mental health demand, health inequalities, and budget constraints. He noted that workforce planning must be robust, evidence-based, and future-focused to place the right staff with the right skills in the right place at the right time.

The framework positions safe staffing as a professional standard and strategic priority in system governance. It aligns with the Reset Plan and the Department of Health's five-year vision for nursing and midwifery. It also aids preparation for potential safe staffing legislation.

Professor McIlgorm said nursing and midwifery form the largest part of the health and social care workforce. She added that effective deployment of staff with proper skills supports outcomes for Northern Ireland's population and prepares for possible legislation on safe staffing.

The revised framework strengthens reporting, introduces shared accountability, and stresses evidence-based decisions.