Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministerial Statement

David Fuller Case

08 November 2021 · 14 other contributors

Opened by Sajid Javid Con Bromsgrove

Safeguarding & DBSNHS

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Sajid Javid raised concerns about david fuller case in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • Sajid Javid announced steps in response to the crimes committed by David Fuller.
  • Fuller was charged with two murders and a series of sexual offences in hospitals.
  • Javid apologised for the offences perpetrated within the NHS and highlighted support for victim families.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Government Statement

Sajid Javid

The Minister for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid, has announced steps in response to the crimes committed by David Fuller. Fuller was charged with two murders and a series of sexual offences in hospital settings. The investigation uncovered evidence of 100 victims, of which 81 have been formally identified. Javid apologised for these offences perpetrated within the NHS and highlighted ongoing support for victim families through dedicated caseworkers and mental health counselling. He mandated an independent inquiry chaired by Sir Jonathan Michael to review mortuary practices and national implications, with interim and final reports scheduled for early January and a later date respectively.

Other contributors (14)
  • Jon Ashworth Lab Derby North

    Question

    Will the Secretary of State confirm that all families impacted will have immediate access to psychological counselling and support? Will NHS staff also have appropriate support?

  • Jon Ashworth Lab Derby North

    Question

    When will the terms of reference for the inquiry be published? Will it consider Human Tissue Authority's standards and enforcement mechanisms, and recommend new processes if necessary?

  • Jon Ashworth Lab Derby North

    Question

    Will the Secretary of State ensure that all mortuaries document staff access, enforce CCTV standards comprehensively, and look into regulation for other premises where bodies are stored?

  • Jon Ashworth Lab Dartford

    Question

    Will the Secretary of State confirm that all the families impacted will have immediate access to psychological counselling and support? Will NHS staff at the hospital also receive appropriate counselling and support?

    Minister reply

    The Minister reassured the right hon. Gentleman about comprehensive support for families and friends affected, including direct contact by family liaison officers and a 24/7 telephone support line. Support will continue as long as necessary and includes dedicated caseworker assistance and access to counselling.

  • Greg Clark Con Tunbridge Wells

    Question

    Will the inquiry allow victims’ families to give evidence on the impact the crimes have had on them? Will public recommendations for the whole of the NHS be made?

    Minister reply

    The Minister confirmed that the inquiry will do all three things requested: allow victims' families to provide evidence, make public recommendations for the entire NHS system, and assess risks in other sectors such as private mortuaries and undertakers.

  • Karin Smyth Lab Bristol South

    Question

    How will information from NHS England be shared with local communities who are now concerned about this issue?

    Minister reply

    The Minister stated that he is happy to share detailed information from NHS England. Information on compliance checks and post-mortem activities will initially go back to NHS England, then be shared with the House and interested parties.

  • Jeremy Hunt Con Godalming and Ash

    Question

    Could similar crimes happen elsewhere? Why did this series of crimes continue undetected for so long?

    Minister reply

    The Minister acknowledged that these crimes occurred over several years. He praised the vast majority of morticians who do a difficult job well, and emphasised the independent inquiry’s role in getting to the bottom of how such crimes could have gone unnoticed.

  • Daisy Cooper Lib Dem St Albans

    Question

    How quickly are hospitals expected to adopt extra steps like CCTV coverage and swipe access?

    Minister reply

    The Minister expects many of the steps to already be in place in NHS trusts. The purpose is to ensure adherence to current rules and guidance, while also determining if further measures are necessary based on the inquiry's findings.

  • Nusrat Ghani Con Sussex Weald

    Question

    Fuller’s vile and depraved acts are hard to comprehend, especially taking into account the number of victims and the fact that the crimes took place over such a long period of time. My thoughts are with the families of Fuller’s victims as they come to terms with the news that they have been told. I am grateful for the inquiry; we need to understand how access was made available to Mr Fuller. May I push the Secretary of State a bit further, especially on family liaison officers? Will he provide assurances that all the victims’ families have that access for as long as they need it and can access mental health services for as long as they need to? Will he provide some assurances that, as far as he is aware, all the families of the victims have been contacted to date? And perhaps he can offer some assistance to the staff of MPs who are dealing with constituents going through this, so that we can make sure that we are offering the most sensitive advice and support possible.

    Minister reply

    My hon. Friend is absolutely right to make those points, and I can give those assurances. The police have informed my Department that all the families of all the victims have been contacted. They all have family liaison officers. That support and other support, such as counselling and mental health support, if required, and the 24/7 telephone line that I referred to, will remain in place for as long as is necessary.

  • Huw Merriman

    Question

    I thank the Secretary of State for his words and his action; it is much appreciated, as is the solidarity shown by the shadow Secretary of State, the right hon. Member for Leicester South (Jonathan Ashworth). I also thank my right hon. Friend the Member for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark) for leading the local MPs on this difficult matter. The nation has been absolutely appalled and horrified by the actions that we have heard about, and none more so than the people in Heathfield, where Mr Fuller was arrested at his family home. They are good people who have been shocked by what they have found out. My constituents use the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. It is an excellent hospital, run by some brilliant management and fantastic staff. Will the Secretary of State make sure that those staff and management have all the support that is needed to ensure that patients receive their ongoing care?

    Minister reply

    Yes, I can give my hon. Friend that assurance. His local hospital does some excellent work in supporting local people in all their health needs and has done so for a long time. I have no doubt that this news will be incredibly distressing to all the people who work in the hospital, and they will get the support that they need.

  • Helen Grant Con Maidstone and Malling

    Question

    Nothing can undo the horror that the families of victims are going through, but I am pleased to hear what my right hon. Friend has said. Could he provide some further and better details on the timescale for the final report that will come out of the inquiry? He mentioned an interim report early next year, but what about the final report? When does he anticipate that the recommendations that might be made in that report will be implemented?

    Minister reply

    Yes, I am happy to provide more information on that issue. I have asked Sir Jonathan to provide the interim report from his inquiry early next year. As my hon. Friend and other hon. Members will understand, it will take some time to get the terms of reference in place and make sure that the review is done properly, but it is important to learn some early lessons.

  • Thomas Tugendhat Con Tonbridge

    Question

    This horrific crime has shocked many in Tonbridge, Edenbridge and Malling who use the hospital. I associate myself entirely with the words of my right hon. Friend the Member for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark). I thank the Secretary of State for announcing the inquiry that many of us have been seeking. May I ask him to provide some resources locally for the trust to reassure patients and staff of the actions that it is taking and make sure that they are communicated to all the towns and villages that rely on and place so much importance on the hospital? We need to ensure that trust is returned to the establishment if we are to have the care needed for all our communities.

    Minister reply

    I can give my hon. Friend that assurance. This will, of course, be a very difficult and distressing time for the local trust. I have already discussed the matter with my colleagues in NHS England, and it will be provided with the resources that it needs.

  • Laura Trott Con Sevenoaks

    Question

    I thank the Secretary of State for agreeing to the inquiry. For my constituents who have been affected, nothing will ever take away the pain and the trauma, but I hope that it will at least provide them with some comfort and assurance that this will never happen again. When David Fuller was first employed, DBS checks did not exist. Subsequent checks failed to pick up his previous convictions. Can the Secretary of State assure us that that issue will be looked at as part of the inquiry? Will he look at the wider NHS and ensure that people with convictions do not have access to sensitive areas of NHS trusts?

    Minister reply

    Yes, I can absolutely give my hon. Friend that assurance. As other colleagues have done, she raises a very important point: it is clear from this case that the issue of employment checks, especially DBS checks—not just in hospital settings, but in mortuary and undertaker settings—needs to be looked at afresh.

Shadow Comment

Jon Ashworth

Shadow Secretary of State Jon Ashworth welcomed the announcement but sought more precision on several points. He asked about immediate access to psychological support, terms of reference publication timing, Human Tissue Authority’s standards review, and recommendations for CCTV enforcement in mortuaries. Ashworth also proposed an inquiry into other premises where bodies are stored that do not fall under the HTA's regulatory remit.

▸ Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy