THE Scottish Conservatives have called for every hospital ward to display the number of nurses on duty in a bid to maintain safety standards.

The party's public health spokeswoman, Nanette Milne, said "real time" information showing the ratio of nurses to patients would provide greater transparency in the NHS and reassure the public.

The Conservatives have previously backed calls for a minimum number of nurses to be on duty at any given time to maintain safety, especially at night and at weekends.

In a letter, Ms Milne called on the new Health Secretary, Shona Robison, to investigate displaying staff numbers on wards.

She also called for a central point of contact and name to whom complaints could be addressed to be posted publicly.

She said: "The ratio of nurses to patients on our hospital wards is vital to ensure high standards of care.

"One way of maintaining this would be to display 'real time' information on the number of nurses on duty at any given time.

"This would provide reassurances to those being treated by the NHS that staffing levels are adequate."

She added: "This was a major issue at Stafford Hospital and we must do everything possible to prevent a similar scandal in Scotland.

"It is important that we build a culture of openness within our NHS." and providing the public with the most up-to-date information would help achieve this and alert patients to any staff shortages."

Nursing campaign group Safe Staffing Alliance have said the minimum standard should be one nurse for every eight patients.

In England, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has backed the recommendation, which is being rolled out across hospitals down south following the scandal of Stafford's poor care and high mortality rates amongst patients.

Lib Dem MP Jo Swinson said: "In light of these figures I hope that public bodies and organisations across Scotland can work with charities to review their approach to mental ill health.

"Our figures give some context to the real scale of mental health issues in Scotland.

"Each of these people needs support from professionals, loved ones and from their place of work.

"That is why it is so important that the Scottish Government works with everyone it can to take down the walls of stigma that surround mental health issues."

NHS Scotland spent more than £655million on mental health services last year.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said an additional £15million had been allocated over the next three years.

The money will be used to recruit more staff to work in child and adolescent mental health services and to develop new ways of delivering services.

The spokeswoman said: "The importance we place on improving the nation's mental health is clear."