NHS: Violence Against NHS Staff

Debate between Baroness Merron and Baroness Rafferty

Monday 2nd March 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Rafferty]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to reduce violence against NHS staff.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care (Baroness Merron) (Lab)]

My Lords, the department and NHS England are working with NHS employers and trade unions to prevent and reduce violence in the NHS by improving prevention, security, reporting and investigation, as well as enhancing training and post-incident support. As announced in the 10-year plan, the Government will strengthen existing measures by introducing this spring a new set of staff standards to ensure that NHS organisations are held to account for improvements.

[Baroness Rafferty (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend the Minister for her, as ever, detailed and insightful response, but I am sure she is also aware that certain groups are disproportionately affected by violence in the workplace. Black and Asian nurses make up over 30% of the total number of registered nurses in England yet report higher exposure to both verbal and physical abuse than their white counterparts. How are the Government supporting NHS trusts to protect staff from all forms of violence and racism?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I agree with my noble friend that racism, violence and abuse in the NHS, and indeed anywhere, are quite unacceptable and there is clearly so much more that we have to do. The Government’s progress is about the establishment of the workforce race equality standard, which measures NHS organisations against nine indicators, including bullying and harassment. The report about the standard was published in June of last year. We also have the equality, diversity and inclusion improvement plan, which again identifies six high-impact areas for employers, and this is expected to be strengthened by the introduction of a new staff standard on tackling racism, which is due in April.

Better Start Longitudinal Programmes

Debate between Baroness Merron and Baroness Rafferty

Tuesday 10th February 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I hope I can be helpful to the noble Baroness. In the Best Start for Life strategy, we committed that each Best Start Family Hub will have a children and family services practitioner to support children and families who have additional needs. I feel that this new offer will help parents to understand their child’s development and identify emerging needs sooner. Importantly, it will also support vital join-up across the services, keeping children who have particular needs at the very centre.

[Baroness Rafferty (Lab)]

My Lords, would my noble friend the Minister confirm what the Department of Health and Social Care has taken from the Better Start work to inform its maternity and baby strategy?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

As my noble friend knows, we are absolutely focused on improving quality and consistency of care for women throughout pregnancy, birth and the critical months that follow. That is why we have appointed the noble Baroness, Lady Amos, to lead an independent investigation and why the Secretary of State will chair a maternity and neonatal taskforce to address the recommendations of the investigation. It is very much part of our work to give babies the very best start in life.

NHS England Update

Debate between Baroness Merron and Baroness Rafferty

Wednesday 19th March 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Rafferty (Lab)]

My Lords, can my noble friend the Minister kindly confirm that the role of the Chief Nursing Officer for England will migrate to DHSC?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

My noble friend will know—as I am sure the right reverend Prelate knows—that the Chief Nursing Officer has always played a role in advising Ministers; that the case was long before the establishment of NHS England and will continue long afterwards. The chief executive, Sir James, has announced his new transformation team, and that includes NHS England’s Chief Nursing Officer.