VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Health Services: Voluntary Work

Asked by Mr Andrew SnowdenConservativeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 20 November 2025UIN 89725

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of covering the insurance costs of employers for volunteer workers in healthcare settings.

Answered by Karin Smyth

There are currently no plans to undertake an assessment regarding insurance arrangements for volunteer workers in healthcare settings.

Whilst all regulated healthcare professionals in the United Kingdom are legally required to maintain appropriate clinical negligence cover and most are covered by state schemes for their National Health Service work, for volunteers it depends on the arrangements made by the NHS organisation. Some volunteer organisations may already have their own insurance in place for their volunteers. It is up to individual NHS organisations to make decisions about the management and deployment of volunteers to support their service needs.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim