The UK Government is supporting frontline NHS staff with new measures to tackle violence and improve working conditions
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting will announce a comprehensive support package today (9 April 2025) to tackle violence and improve the working lives of frontline NHS staff.
The measures are part of recommendations accepted by the government under the Agenda for Change contract, which covers one million frontline NHS staff.
Frontline NHS staff are facing violence in the workplace
Frontline NHS staff are facing an epidemic of violence. In the 2024 NHS Staff Survey, one in seven experienced physical violence from patients, their relatives or other members of the public.
Furthermore, a quarter of frontline NHS staff experienced at least one incident of harassment, bullying, or abuse in the last 12 months. However, many incidents go unreported, reducing the opportunity to address the problem systematically.
In a keynote speech to UNISON’s National Health Care Service Group Conference in Liverpool, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting said, “No one should go to work fearing violence. Yet one in every seven people employed by the NHS has 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.”
New measures will encourage staff to report violent incidents
New measures will encourage frontline NHS staff to report violent or aggressive situations and ensure this data is collected nationally. Data will be used to see if some staff—based on race, gender, disability, or job role—face higher risks, so trusts can better protect them.
Additional measures will address longstanding issues by ensuring staff are paid correctly for their work. Staff are often asked to work beyond their job description without compensation, leading to disputes.
The Department of Health and Social Care is working closely 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 aims to guarantee staff are placed in the appropriate pay band for their skills and knowledge.
Enhanced career progression support
In total, 36 recommendations have been accepted by ministers, which are expected to have a considerable and positive impact on frontline NHS staff.
Further recommended measures include enhanced career progression support for nurses, such as offering managers more learning and development, leadership training and career coaching.
New guidance for employers on recognising overseas experience on appointment into the NHS and sharing best practices on recruitment and selection will also be available.
Additionally, the government has outlined steps to reduce reliance on agency workers to make it easier for frontline NHS staff to take up flexible working and develop good practice guidance on working patterns for existing staff. Plus, managers will be encouraged to create six-month career reviews explicitly tailored for ethnic minority nurses to identify progression pathways and provide targeted interview preparation support.
