VerbatimParliament, as it happens

NHS Trusts: Complaints

Asked by James McMurdockIndependentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 2 March 2026UIN 112994

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of staffing levels on the volume of complaints received by NHS trusts.

Answered by Karin Smyth

No assessment has been made. The responsibility for staffing levels is with clinical and other leaders at a local level, responding to local needs, supported by guidelines by national and professional bodies and overseen and regulated in England by the Care Quality Commission.

Providers of National Health Services should have a systematic approach to determine and review the number of staff and range of skills needed to meet the needs of people using their services and keep them safe at all times. This includes taking into account feedback and complaints data to inform staffing decisions and improve services.

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