Protecting staff from violent assaults

 In 2010-11 there were 18,060 reported physical assaults against NHS staff in England that did not involve medical factors. This is a 19% decrease on the figure for 2009-10, which was 22,381. In total for 2010-11, there were 57,830 reported physical assaults against NHS staff in England, compared with 56,718 in 2009-10. Richard Hampton, local support and development services manager at NHS Protect, said: “Staff committed to providing our national health service should never be expected to suffer violence at work and it will not be tolerated. NHS Protect urges employers to take firm action in all cases of assault against NHS staff.” Commenting on the small increase in total assaults, he said: “We believe it reflects both an improved culture of reporting assaults and better mechanisms that are now in place to record them. Rightly, staff demand that their reports of violence are followed up. Tough action is being taken to ensure that all NHS organisations work better with local police and other agencies to clamp down on anyone who is aggressive and abusive to NHS staff.” Commenting on the subject, Dr Peter Carter, Royal College of Nursing chief executive and general secretary, said: “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 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.”