Assaults on staff increasing as pressures rise
Published: 30 November 2010
For immediate release: 29th November 2010
Assaults on staff increasing as pressures rise
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) today commented on figures from the NHS Security Management Service showing there were almost 57,000 violent assaults on NHS staff in the past year (a 3 per cent rise), with the acute sector particularly badly affected.
Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive & General Secretary, said:
“These figures are a real cause for concern when we know that pressures in the health service are on the rise. Many trusts have worked very hard to reduce the levels of assaults against staff, however despite this there have been a staggering 57,000 assaults on staff in the last year. Assaults on staff are never justified, but the worry is that if pressures increase and people wait longer, the levels of frustration will rise.
“Nurses have been telling us that they are already doing more with fewer resources and staff. We are concerned, for example, that staff shortages could mean a return to the days of long waits in A & E where tempers could flare on a regular basis. We would urge trusts to do everything in their power to avoid this situation for the benefit of patients as well as staff.
“We cannot become complacent about this and NHS organisations need to share best practice to minimise the risk to staff. The Boorman Review showed that trusts which invest in protection of staff have better patient outcomes, and trusts should be mindful of the overall benefit of keeping staff safe, healthy and working.”
-ends-
Notes to Editors
The full figures can be found here - http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/SecurityManagement/Documents/SecurityManagement/2009-10_Physical_Assaults_Against_NHS_Staff_FINAL_241110.pdf
For further information, interviews or illustrations please contact the RCN Media Office on 0207 647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit http://www.rcn.org.uk/news/mediacentre.php
Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.