(This note is not part of the Order)
The Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Act 2016 (“the Act”) has three sections. Sections 2 (commencement) and 3 (short title) came into force on 21 March 2016, the day that the Act received Royal Assent.
This Order brings section 1 of the Act (nurse staffing levels) into force in three stages. Section 1 inserts new sections 25A to 25E into the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 (“the 2006 Act”).
Article 2(a) brings section 1 of the Act into force on 3 August 2016 in so far as it inserts section 25D (nurse staffing levels: guidance) of the 2006 Act.
Section 25D places a duty on the Welsh Ministers to issue guidance to Local Health Boards and NHS Trusts in Wales (where applicable) about the duties under sections 25B and 25C.
Article 2(b) brings section 1 of the Act into force on 6 April 2017 in so far as it inserts section 25A (duty to have regard to providing sufficient nurses) of the 2006 Act.
Section 25A places a duty on Local Health Boards and NHS Trusts in Wales when considering how many nurses are required to meet all reasonable requirements, to have regard to the importance of providing sufficient nurses to allow nurses time to care for patients sensitively.
Article 2(c) brings section 1 of the Act into force on 6 April 2018 in so far as it inserts sections 25B, 25C and 25E of the 2006 Act (duty to calculate and take steps to maintain nurse staffing levels, nurse staffing levels: method of calculation and nurse staffing levels: reports).
Section 25B places a duty on Local Health Boards and NHS Trusts in Wales to calculate and take steps to maintain nurse staffing levels in specified settings and to inform patients of the level.
Section 25C sets out the method for calculating the nurse staffing level.
Section 25E sets out the reporting requirements for the Act.