The Minister for Patient Safety and People said that the Government remains committed to introducing neonatal leave and pay as per their manifesto commitment. He acknowledged the stress parents endure when having a child in neonatal care and stated that current statutory leave entitlements do not sufficiently support such families. The Minister detailed the benefits of neonatal leave, including up to 12 weeks of paid leave for eligible parents whose babies have been admitted into hospital up to 28 days old with continuous stays of seven full days or more. He emphasised that such policies benefit both employees and employers by fostering a healthier work-life balance and increasing employee loyalty and motivation. The Minister also mentioned the Government's ongoing efforts, including legislative planning and discussions with HMRC about IT system changes necessary for implementation. Despite acknowledging potential challenges in introducing neonatal leave through a stand-alone Bill due to parliamentary time constraints, he reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to delivering this important reform as soon as possible.