Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he will take to increase security in patient care facilities for those who are victims of (a) knife and (b) other violent crimes.

The security and safety of hospital staff and patients is paramount. National Health Service organisations are responsible for determining their own security arrangements based on their needs and demands. NHS England published a Violence Prevention and Reduction Standard in December 2020. This requires all NHS organisations to assess and manage risks, put in place plans to mitigate the risks of violence and support staff with adequate resources and training.