A LOCAL MP has spoken in Parliament about assaults on NHS medical staff following a petition signed by more than 116,000 people.

Halifax MP Holly Lynch spoke during a Westminster Hall debate about the issue which reflects a Private Members’ Bill she is behind.

The Bill would offer frontline emergency services staff greater protection from harm. It would make certain offences “aggravated” when committed against a constable, firefighter, doctor, paramedic or nurse in the execution of their duty.

During the debate on the petition yesterday, Ms Lynch said: “The Bill would ensure that tougher sentences were available to the judiciary when sentencing someone convicted of assaulting an emergency responder or NHS worker."

She added: "The spirit of my Bill was to say loud and clear that the public and elected representatives as legislators are on the side of NHS workers, and anyone who deliberately seeks to inflict injury on our medical professionals will feel the full and unavoidable force of the law. I wholeheartedly support any and all means of doing just that."