LONDON, July 6 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:

* New staff standards to improve working conditions forover one and a half million NHS staff * Hospital performance to be measured on staff wellbeing issues * Delivers on 10 Year Health Plan commitment

NHS employers will be formally accountable for how they treat their workforceon key issues for the first time underlandmark staff standards that will measureperformance on tackling racism, violence and improving sexual safety measured in publicleague tables.

The new standards, developed in partnership with NHS England, NHS trade unions and staff representatives through the Social Partnership Forum, cover six key areas: violenceprevention and reduction;championing sexual safety; tackling racism; promoting flexible working; line management; and health and wellbeing support.

Thegovernment is committing to making the NHS the best employer it can be, and has made good progress, including delivering above inflation pay rises three years in a row for staff. This year has seen record rates of staff choosing to stay in the health service, but there is still much more to do.

The NHS has a zero-tolerancepolicy towards racism and violence against staff or patients. Nevertheless, in the most recent Staff Survey, workers reported unacceptable levels of racism and violence against them, including sexual violence.

For the second consecutive year, there was an increase in the percentage of staff who'd personally experienced violence at work from patients, their relativesor other members of the public (14.47%).

HardworkingNHS staff must be treated with the respect they deserve, and this is the first time in the history of the health servicethat employers have faced formal, mandated accountability for staff experience in these areas.

Last month, the government also accepted Lord Mann'srecommendations for tackling antisemitism and discrimination in the NHS, which included measures to enhance accountability for senior leaders.

Minister for Secondary Care Karin Smyth said:

NHS staff are the backbone of our health service, and they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. The levels of racism, violence and sexual harassment reported by staff are completely unacceptable, and for too long there has been no formal accountability for employers to address them.

These new standards - a 10 Year Health Plan commitment - change that. For the first time, how Trusts treat their employees will be measured and published, because we know that when staff are supported, patients get better care. This government is determined to make the NHS the best employer it can be, and these standards are a landmark step in delivering on that promise.

From July 2026, NHS Trusts in secondary care -including acute hospitals, mental health services, and ambulance trusts - will be required to meet the standards, which will be assessed through a headline metric in the NHSOversight Framework (NOF). This means how well a Trust supports its staff in key areas - assessed via the annual staff survey - will directly affect its overall performance ratingalongside waiting list and A&E metrics. Employers' actions like implementing robust violence prevention and acting when concerns are raised are likely to help with staff survey findings and their NOF scores.

The standards set a clear baseline of what NHS staffcan expect from their employer, regardless of where they work. Future years will see the standards refined to drive continuous improvement, with plans to look at how the to extend the framework to primary care, including GPs and dentists, and other service types in future.

Helga Pile and Ben Morrin CoChairs of the National SPF said:

We welcome the introduction of the NHS Staff Standards and the government's policy of improving staff experience in these areas through strengthened accountability. The Standards target the right priorities, and this marked change in accountability and support is what makes this approach different for our staff and members.

The government will need to ensure the new NHS system can provide the right oversight, support and challenge. Effective partnership working between employers and trade unions on implementing the standards, should thenmean they result in a lasting and improved experience at work for NHS staff.

Professor Habib Naqvi, chief executive, NHS Race and Health Observatory, said:

We welcome the launch of the NHS Staff Standard for tackling racism. It brings vital focus to leadership, accountability, transparency and structural change needed across the health service.

Our diverse workforce is the backbone of the NHS, delivering outstanding care under pressure. Staff deserve to be valued, supported and protected. Yet, for too long, ethnic minority staff have faced compromised safety, inconsistent reporting and inadequate responses. Implementing national minimum standards for how healthcare organisations prevent, respond to, and learn from incidents of racism is an essential step forward.

The standard must now be backed by systemic action, evidence-based interventions and leadership accountability. Our '7 Principles of Anti-Racism for the NHS Workforce' will help to create equitable, inclusive workplaces - we stand ready to support organisations as they embed these standards.

Improving staff experience is central to the government's mission to build an NHS fit for the future and the forthcoming 10 Year Workforce Plan will set out further measures to achieve this.

Better working conditions are expected to support the recruitment and retention of staff, reduce sickness absence, improve productivity and ultimately deliver better outcomes for patients.

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.