Staffing level tool development – one nurse to one patient ratio calculation: January 2026

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Document Type

HSP recommendations

Improvement support

Summary

This detailed report outlines the approach and evidence we used for our recommendation for revisions to the staffing level tools. We revised relevant staffing level tools to include standardised care hours for a patient assigned a 1:1 level of care. We made the recommendation to Scottish Ministers in September 2025.

The Healthcare Staffing Programme produced this recommendations paper.

These are technical documents designed to be used by specialist staff. If you need further information on the tools, contact his.hsp@nhs.scot.