NHS Employers must protect staff from violent assaults

Published: 10 November 2011

Responding to figures released today on physical assaults against NHS staff, Royal College of Nursing Chief Executive & General Secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said:

“I am appalled by the fact that nearly 58,000 physical assaults have taken place in England against our hard working NHS staff this year. Quite frankly one is too many. No one goes to work expecting to be assaulted and this is all the more upsetting when we consider that some members of the public are attacking the very people trying to help them. Assaults on staff are never justified, but the worry is that if pressures increase and people wait longer, the levels of frustration will rise.

“It is somewhat reassuring that sanctions have increased and I hope that this will go some way towards acting as a deterrent. Everything must be done to prevent members of the public from carrying out threatening or violent acts, and those that choose to do so should be made to face the consequences. Research has shown time and time again that where organisations take measures to care for the health, safety and wellbeing of their staff, patient experience and the quality of care increases.”

“With physical violence against employees estimated to cost the NHS £60.5 million a year, it is high time Trusts step up and look to invest more in prevention and protecting their staff from assaults in the first place.”

Ends

Notes for Editors

1.      Reference for £60.5 million:  NHS Security Management Service (2010) Cost of violence against NHS Staff. A report summarising the economic cost to the NHS of violence against staff 2007/2008. Available at www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk (accessed  7/11/11) (web)

2.     For further information, please contact the RCN Media Office on 020 7647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit  http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/media

3.     The 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