At Prime Minister’s Questions today Oliver called on the Government to back the campaign to make it a specific criminal offence to assault a member of the NHS’s staff.

The question followed an interview this morning on LBC Radio where Oliver spoke with Nick Ferrari who launched the ‘Guard our Emergency Medical Services campaign’ (GEMS) earlier this month.

Speaking later, Oliver said: ‘I was very glad to give my support to this campaign. It is already a specific offence in England to assault a police officer, a prison officer or an immigration officer, but there is no such offence for assaulting an NHS worker.

‘I know our country will not tolerate violence towards our dedicated doctors and nurses. I was pleased that the Prime Minister shared my concerns and that this proposal will now be looked at by the Health Secretary and debated in Parliament.’

The public petition linked to the campaign has now reached over 100,000 signatures. Mr Dowden sits on the committee which considers petitions for debate in Parliament. After voting for this to be debated, he will now be leading the debate itself when it begins in the House of Commons in late February.

Oliver’s intervention in the campaign followed meetings with local doctors, including from Radlett’s Red House surgery and with Hertsmere Chief Inspector Steve O’Keeffe.

Oliver said: ‘This campaign resonated with my own experiences in Hertsmere. I know from speaking with NHS staff locally the concerns many have about treating violent patients. I was pleased that the Chief Inspector was looking into this and I will continue to monitor this issue closely.’