Duty to have regard to providing sufficient nurses comes into force in Wales

Implementation date: 6 April 2017

The Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Act 2016 introduces a duty on local health boards and NHS trusts in Wales to have regard to the importance of providing sufficient nurses to allow them time to care for patients sensitively when considering how many nurses are required to meet all reasonable requirements. This duty applies when local health boards and NHS trusts are providing nursing services themselves and when they are securing the provision of nursing services from third parties.

The new duty is commenced by the Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Act 2016 (Commencement) Order 2016 (SI 2016/829 (W208)).