Modern slavery and human trafficking statement

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust response to the requirements of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

This statement comprises the modern-day slavery and human trafficking statement of Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust (The Trust) in accordance with Section 54, Part 6 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. The act requires all organisations to set out the steps it has taken to ensure that slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in any of its supply chains, or in any part of its own business.

Modern slavery is the recruitment, movement, harbouring or receiving of children, women or men using force, coercion, abuse of vulnerability, deception, or other means for the purpose of exploitation.

Individuals may be trafficked into, out of, or within the UK. They may be trafficked for several reasons, including sexual exploitation, forced labour, domestic servitude and/or organ harvesting.

Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act (2015) requires all organisations to set out the steps it has taken to ensure that slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in any of its supply chains, and in any part of its own business

The Trust has zero tolerance for Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. Any identified concerns regarding Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking would be escalated as part of the organisational safeguarding processes and in conjunction with partner agencies, such as the Local Authority and Police.

The Trust recognises that it has a responsibility to take a robust approach to slavery and human trafficking and is committed to preventing slavery and human trafficking. This statement sets out actions taken by the Trust to minimise risks associated with modern slavery and human trafficking and demonstrates that the Trust has effective systems in place to prevent these.

Organisation structure and business

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust provides local general hospital and community services to around 260,000 people in Walsall and the surrounding areas. The Trust is the only provider of NHS acute care in Walsall, providing inpatient and outpatient services at the Manor Hospital as well as a wide range of services in the community. Walsall Manor Hospital houses the full range of district general hospital services under one roof.

We provide high quality, friendly and effective community health services from some 60 sites including Health Centre’s and GP surgeries. Covering Walsall and beyond, our multidisciplinary services include rapid response in the community and home-based care, so that those with long-term conditions and the frail elderly, can remain in their own homes to be cared for.

The Trust’s Palliative Care Centre in Goscote is our base for a wide range of palliative care and end of life services. Our teams, in the Centre and the community, provide high quality medical, nursing and therapy care for local people living with cancer and other serious illnesses, as well as offering support for their families and carers.

The Trust employs approximately 4695 members of staff, and the organisation’s recruitment and selection processes are in line with best practice principles, aligning with NHS terms & conditions and equitable pay.

The Trust works in accordance with and adhering to the NHS England (NHSE) Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement. The NHSE statement incorporates the Trust’s responsibilities as the part of the wider NHS, supported by NHSE to address the risk of modern slavery in the health service and points to actions best delivered nationally and locally. For further detail and assurance, it can be accessed here: NHS England modern slavery and human trafficking statement

Additional Procurement and Supply Chain Assurance Statement

The North Midlands and Black Country Procurement Group (NMBC), which covers all aspects of Procurement services for Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust (WHT), is fully committed to supporting the UK Government’s objective to eradicate modern slavery and human trafficking. Modern slavery is a serious violation of human rights and includes forced labour, servitude, human trafficking, and other forms of exploitation. The scale and complexity of the NHS supply chain mean that proactive, consistent action is essential to ensure all goods and services procured are free from unethical labour practices. This commitment aligns with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and subsequent government guidance mandating transparency in public-sector supply chains, including NHS bodies.

The NMBC oversees annual procurement spend across approximately 2,000 suppliers for WHT, covering medical products, equipment, food, logistics, services, and digital solutions. Much of this activity is delivered via NHS Supply Chain, which manages more than 8 million orders annually and distributes over 28 million lines of goods to NHS organisations.

The NMBC Procurement Group adheres to all Policies in Relation to Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking, such as:

  • Modern Slavery Act 2015 – Section 54 (Transparency in Supply Chains).
  • Procurement Policy Notes (PPNs) including PPN 02/23 and PPN 05/19, which set minimum due‑diligence standards for managing modern slavery risks in public-sector supply chains.
  • NHS Terms and Conditions and NHS Standard Contract, which require suppliers to comply with modern slavery‑related legislation.
  • Government Commercial Agency (GCA) standard procurement processes, including mandatory exclusion questions for suppliers under the Modern Slavery Act.

We recognise that risks of modern slavery can arise in:

  • Global manufacturing of medical consumables and PPE
  • Logistics and warehousing
  • Outsourced cleaning, catering, and facilities services
  • IT hardware supply chains
  • Recruitment of temporary and agency labour

NHS Supply Chain, Accredited Framework Hubs and NHS England conduct ongoing assessments of risk areas, using supplier self‑assurance, independent audits, and enhanced scrutiny for high‑risk geographic or product categories, of which we can access via the Central Government Tendering & Contract management Portal “ATAMIS”, which allows us to assess ongoing and incumbent procurements.

The NMBC team continue to be trained and upskilled within Modern Slavery legislation and need to ensure that they competent across all Public Procurement Law requirement before undertaking any procurement activity for the Trust.