Violence and aggression

Latest figures from the NHS show that nearly 58,000 health care workers were physically assaulted in 2010-11.  A significant number of those assaulted will be nurses and health care assistants.

RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary Dr Peter Carter said he was ‘appalled’ by the fact that nearly 58,000 physical assaults have taken place in England in 2010-2011. “Quite frankly one is too many,” he said. “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.”

The factors that lead to violence and aggression in health care environments are complex.  Some may be alcohol or drug related others may be due to the patients’ medical condition.  Whatever the cause employers have a legal and moral duty to protect workers exposed to the risk of workplace violence and aggression and provide follow up and support following an incident.

The RCN has developed a Work-related violence guidance (PDF 268KB) [see how to access PDF files]  to  support the implementation of violence risk assessments in health care environments.

We work closely with NHS Protect, the organisation charged with the security of the NHS in England, and are a member of their Strategy Implementation Group.

Lone working

The RCN has also lobbied successfully for improvements to the personal safety of nurses and health care assistants who work alone.   The RCN’s You're Not Alone (PDF 160KB) campaign led to the Government  announcing funding to improve the protection of NHS lone workers.  30, 000 lone worker devices alongside training in dynamic risk assessment and personal safety have been rolled out to NHS workers in England and Wales are also rolling out devices.

However with more than 100, 000 health care workers working on their own in the NHS and independent sector every day, many workers are without such protection.  In the Summer of 2011 the RCN surveyed members to assess the levels of protection and action taken by their employer to protect their safety.  Download the results of the survey PDF (1944KB) which was launched in January 2012.