CONSULT.Outcome publishedConsultation · gov.uk
Wilful neglect or ill-treatment in health and social care
Seeks views on the details of a new criminal offence of ill-treatment or wilful neglect of users of health and social care services.
Last fetched 03 May 2026 · gov.uk
Detail
As part of the response to the Francis Report, the government accepted the recommendation of the National Advisory Group on the Safety of Patients in England to develop a new criminal offence of ill-treatment or wilful neglect.
This consultation outlines the recommendation and the government’s current position, and sets out our proposals for the details of the offence.
Documents
New criminal offence of ill-treatment or wilful neglectapplication/pdfNew criminal offence of ill-treatment or wilful neglect: easy read versionapplication/pdfNew criminal offence of ill-treatment or wilful neglect impact assessmentapplication/pdfNew offences of ill-treatment or wilful neglect: government response to consultationapplication/pdf