Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent further disruption to the NHS given the industrial action taken by nurses.

The priority is to keep patients safe during any industrial action. NHS England makes every effort to minimise disruption during industrial action, working with providers, professional bodies, trade unions and other bodies to agree safe levels of cover.

On 2 March, the Government invited the NHS Staff Council, who represent Agenda for Change unions, to join a series of intensive talks covering pay, terms and conditions improvements and productivity enhancing reforms. Unions representing the majority of ambulance workers, nurses, physiotherapists, porters, cleaners and other non-medical staff have now agreed to pause strikes and enter a process of intensive talks.