This planningcycle allows for a bottom up evidence based approach to future staffing numbersacross all staff groups, including nurses and midwives. Workforce forecasts containedwithin NHS board workforce plans will help inform national decisions on future trainingnumbers and supply.In addition, the Scottish Executivehas funded 18 experienced nurses and midwives from across NHSScotland to completethe Advanced Neonatal Intensive Care course (NNIC) at Napier University.