Zarah ChoudharyHealth and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting has outlined a support package to tackle violence and improve the working lives of NHS staff.
The measures are part of a range of recommendations accepted by the Government under the Agenda for Change contract – which covers more than a million frontline NHS workers – following the agreement of the 2023 pay deal.
Violence against healthcare workers has become a critical issue, with the 2024 NHS Staff Survey revealing that one in seven experienced physical violence from patients, their relatives or other members of the public.
A quarter of NHS staff experienced at least one incident of harassment, bullying or abuse in the last 12 months.
Many incidents currently go unreported, hampering efforts to address the problem systematically.
Measures will be put in place to encourage staff to report incidents of violence or aggression towards them, and to ensure this information is collected at national level.
Data will also be analysed to better understand if certain staff groups – whether by race, gender, disability status, or role – face disproportionate risks, allowing trusts to protect the most vulnerable workers.
In a keynote speech to UNISON’s National Health Care Service Group Conference in Liverpool, Secretary of Streeting said: “No one should go to work fearing violence.
“Yet one in every seven people employed by the NHS have suffered violence at the hands of patients, their relatives, or other members of the public.
“Protecting staff from violence is not an optional extra.
“Zero tolerance for violence and harassment of NHS staff.
“It’s a commitment to make sure healthcare workers can focus on saving lives without fear for their own safety.
“I owe my life to the NHS staff who cared for me through kidney cancer.
“I owe a debt of gratitude that I will never be able to repay, but I certainly intend to try.
“You were there for me, and I’ll be there for you.”
The package of measures will also address longstanding issues around ensuring staff are paid correctly for the work they deliver.
Staff being routinely required to work beyond their job description with no compensation has led to a number of local disputes, such as those relating to clinical support worker roles in the Midlands at Kettering General Hospital and University Hospitals of Leicester.
The Department of Health and Social Care is working with NHS England, NHS Employers and the Staff Council to implement a national digital system to support the fair and consistent application of the Job Evaluation Scheme.
This will ensure staff are placed in the appropriate pay band recognising the skills and knowledge required for the role.
Further measures include: enhanced career progression support for nurses; guidance for employers on how to recognise overseas experience and share best practice on recruitment and selection processes; reduced reliance on expensive agency workers by making it easier for NHS staff to take up flexible working and developing good practice guidance on working patterns for existing staff; and encouraging six-month career reviews tailored specifically for ethnic minority nurses.
In total, 36 recommendations were accepted by ministers.
Rachel Harrison, national secretary at GMB, said: “This comprehensive package of worker support is welcome.
“GMB members took industrial action in 2022 to pursue fairer pay and working conditions
“This is a direct result of their efforts.
“We will continue to work with the Government to make sure it’s all implemented in full.”
